President Goodluck Jonathan and the Christian Association of Nigeria (Can) president Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor have been dragged before a federal high court in Kano asking them to explain what they know about the $9.3m seized in South Africa. On September 5, South African immigration officials seized a private jet containing $9.3m at Johannesburg international airport. Nigerian officials have since tried to explain the incident away saying it was money meant for arms purchases but checks have revealed that there are no records of any such deal being negotiated with any South African supplier and the money has not yet been released.
Political commentators in both Nigeria and South Africa have repeatedly asked the government to provide a satisfactory explanation, especially, as the money was being transported in a private jet owned by Pastor Oritsejafor. In an escalation of the crisis, five Nigerians dragged the president and the Can leader to court asking that they respond to the questions raised. Led by Dr Saidu Ahmed Dukawa, the plaintiffs are seeking to compel President Jonathan to explain the rationale behind the alleged transaction that culminated into the seizure of the cash by the South African authorities. They are asking that the court compels the presidency to hand out details that would clarify whether it was an illegal deal or not and also to disclose the identity of those arrested when the money was confiscated. In a further escalation of the matter, Can's southwestern zone has urged the federal government to query its officials over the bizarre deal. Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, the chairman of Can southwest asked why the government used a private jet leased out by its president Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for the arms deal when it had over 10 aircraft, besides those belonging to the Nigerian Air Force. At the end of its meeting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Can southwest urged President Jonathan and his ministers to answer the posers. They added that the national security adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki and the defence minister, Lt Gen Mohammed Gusau, should explain what they know about the transactions. Archbishop Atilade said: "Who are behind the deal, which has given Nigeria a bad name in the committee of nations? “Dasuki and Gusau should be questioned and they should provide urgent answers to this national embarrassment.” According to Can, the matter appears like a set-up because Pastor Oritsejafor, whose jet was hired for the arms purchase, is neither a government official nor the person who authorised the use of the private jet for the transaction. He leased the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft, which was given to him as a birthday gift to the Green Coast Produce Company on August 2, 2014.
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