The private jet owned by President of the
Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor
Ayo Oritsejafor that conveyed $9.3 million
cash from Nigeria to South Africa for an
arms deal between the two countries, had
Nigerian crew members, and passengers from
Israel and Austria, new documents obtained by
PREMIUM TIMES in Johannesburg have shown.
There were three Nigerians aboard the plane, the
documents show.
PREMIUM TIMES obtained the manifest of the
jet that transported the huge sum, and has
confirmed the identities of the passengers and
crew who delivered the controversial package.
South Africa seized the money early September,
accusing the Nigerian government of violating its
laws regulating the transfer of cash.
Another payment by the Nigerian government for
arms to combat the extremist Boko Haram sect,
was also confiscated. The second transfer,
totalling $5.7 million, was wired through the
banks.
The South African ambassador to Nigeria was
later quoted as saying the money had been
returned to Nigeria, a claim that has yet to be
verified.
Details of the first transaction, revealed by a
South African newspaper, City Press, said an
Israeli and two Nigerians were aboard the
airplane that transported the sum to Lanseria
airport in South Africa.
The first tranche of the money was conveyed to
South Africa on September 5 in two plastic bag
suitcases and two hand luggage aboard an
airplane belonging to Ayo Oritsejafor, the
chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria,
CAN.
While the Nigerian government confirmed the
transactions, it denied violating any foreign law.
The government also refused to provide the
names of those aboard the airplane.
In its report, widely quoted in the Nigerian media,
City Press said the Israeli passenger, Eyal
Mesika, had the key to the combination lock of
the suitcases. The paper also said two Nigerian
passengers were aboard the plane. It quoted
South African law enforcement officials.
The report however did not reveal the identities
of the Nigerians, and South African officials also
declined to provide those details to PREMIUM
TIMES when contacted from Nigeria by
telephone.
In an investigation that involved visiting South
Africa, PREMIUM TIMES has obtained documents
showing details of the transaction, including the
flight manifest of the airplane.
The listing shows that beside Mr. Mesika, the
only Nigerians on board the aircraft were crew
members.
The other two passengers who conveyed the
cash were Austrians, the manifest shows.
The two Austrians are named, R. Wolfgang and
M. Michael.
The flight crew members of the Project Eagle Air
jet with flight number: N808HE were Ojongbede
R.T (captain), Fejoku U, (flight officer) and
George E.E (flight attendant).
The listing contradicts reports that the other
passengers were Nigerians, a claim that set off
an intense controversy after the All Progressives
Congress, APC, accused a former militant leader,
Dokubo Asari, of being one of those aboard the
plane.
The Bombardier jet owned by Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor was involved in hauling $9.3m
cash in a cash-for-arm scandal in South
Africa
The APC relied on unverified reports by some
news websites [not PREMIUM TIMES] in making
the false claim.
Mr. Asari denied the allegation and threatened
legal action against Lai Mohammed, the
spokesperson of the APC.
In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES at the
time, Mr. Asari threatened to physically assault
Mr. Mohammed if he failed to get justice in the
courts.
“After all the South Africa People have given the
names of people on the plane and if by next
week we go to court and the court is being
manipulated not to give me justice, I will resort
to self-help,” he said.
“I have the capacity to resort to self-help. I will
not give anybody any apology because if a man
has mouth to malign me then I can use what I
have to fight for myself.”
Premium times.
No comments: