By Sam Eyoboka

CONCERNED Nigerians have asked pertinent questions since the news broke of the Nigerian jet caught in troubled diplomatic waters in South Africa over arms deal. Lawyer, social crusader and critic, Mr. Festus Keyamo, led the pack of those who had resorted to pertinent questions; and he asked several.

He concluded that the explanation of the Federal Government’s involvement was, to say the least, “not only ludicrous, it is laughable, untenable and a story only fit to be told to the marines,” because “the position of the Federal Government is a cock-and-bull story meant to be shoved down the throat of Nigerians.”

The initiator of Delta Force United, advocating a total change in Asaba in 2015, went further to pose several rhetorical questions: “Is it really faster and safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or by a simple wire transfer that can go through in a matter of few minutes or few hours? If, indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by a foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African government not brought into the picture beforehand? How could the South African government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by insurgents if they were not officially informed beforehand? If indeed the manufacturer(s) of such equipment was/were expecting such large amount by cash, why did they not make adequate arrangements with the authorities in South Africa to declare and clear the cash on arrival? Why was money belonging to the Federal Government and meant for purchase of equipment for the Federal Government moved by a private jet and by private individuals and why were they not accompanied by the officials of the Department of State Services or the office of the National Security Adviser in official capacities?

•Oritsejafor

Why would a government at the peak of promoting the cashless policy in our economy be the chief breaker of that policy by moving such a large amount by cash? If, indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the Federal Government, why were the officials of our embassy in South Africa not on hand to make the entry easier and smoother? Since the South African government has said the amount is above the limit of cash allowed into that country, why would a whole government like Nigeria not know the simple immigration laws of a sister and friendly country before allowing that type of amount of cash to be taken to that country? Why would the Nigerian government seek to smuggle cash into a country without disclosure if it was, indeed, for a legitimate transaction? From where did the Federal Government source that amount in Nigeria? Was it from the Central Bank of Nigeria or from the black market? Nigerians demand answers to this with proof. Is it just a wicked coincidence that it is the aircraft belonging to a personal friend and unapologetic ally of the President in the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (my big brother in Warri), that was used to smuggle the cash? If, contrary to the above posers, the transaction was contracted out to a private company in Nigeria, does it not amount to the offence of money laundering under our laws for the Federal Government to have allowed that company to attempt to pay for the equipment by cash to the tune of that amount without passing through a financial institution? The truth is, any transaction the world over that is done by cash, in a huge volume like this and in this manner can only point to one thing: It is an illegal transaction or a transaction for an illegal purpose that is meant to be untraceable.
This was a covert, illegal operation that went horribly wrong.”

This line of thought appears to find expression among several Nigerians who believe that something is amiss with the purported transaction. Some have even gone to the extent of thinking that the deal may have been concocted by some fifth columnists in government to smear a man they could not arrest, the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and advance the cause of the opposition.

The Northern Rainbow Coalition, an almagam of 43 affiliate organisations across the North, expressed disgust about the smear campaign on social media about the possibility of Oritsejafor’s involvement in criminality. The coalition, in a statement by Abdul Ahmed Isiaq, maintained that, in fairness to the person of Pastor Oritsejafor on the $9.3 million arms deal money and his private jet, the question should be asked, who is afraid of the CAN President?

Nigerians, the Northern Rainbow Coalition argued, “are quick in judging and/or running into conclusions without examining details or the angle where certain informations come from, most especially where group interest, sentiment and politics are used to blind people’s perception.

“We have it on good authority after examining and re-examining facts, that the private jet currently under investigation in South Africa belongs to Pastor Ayo Oritsejjafor and he (Pastor Ayo ) has a residual in Eagle Air (a company that manages the aircraft).

That is to say the aircraft is not operated by him,” the statement said, stressing that the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, also confirmed that, based on his investigation on the arrangement between the CAN leader and the leasing firm, the cleric has no control over the use of the aircraft.

The statement went on: “On the 2nd of August 2014, the aircraft was leased to and is operated by a company called Green Coast Produce Limited and this company has been operating the aircraft since then, so all inquiries in respect to the day-to-day operations of the aircraft should be directed to the company.

“Furthermore the Green Coast Produce Limited has confirmed that the said aircraft (Bombardier Challenger 600 with registration no. N808HG) has been leased to it, which we confirmed that this kind of transaction is NORMAL in the aviation industry.
Green Coast Produce Limited said it hired (chartered) the aircraft to one John Ishyaku on 5th of September 2014. Upon the following documented terms:-

1) Depart Abuja – Johannesburg on the 5th of September 2014.

2) Return to Abuja on the 6th of September 2014.

3) To wait and return with the passengers .

“We learnt and indeed imbibed a few salutary lesson in the past. We must therefore desist from fanning the embers of discord and disaffection; and focus more on national unity, social harmony, religious understanding and peaceful co-existence. This is the only way to move the country forward.”.

In a similar development, a senatorial aspirant in Edo State and economist, Mr. Egheomhanre Eyienyien, was at a loss as to why ‘Christians’ often take the gauntlet and feel no qualms castigating the person of the CAN President. In his reaction, he said: “I find nothing more absurd than when I read comments by ‘Christians’, who know nothing about God, pointing accusing fingers at genuine men of God of whom they also know nothing.

“If there is any Nigerian pastor who has been so viciously maligned and needlessly ridiculed by ‘Christians’ in Nigeria, it is Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Here is a man who has put his life on the line to resist the advance of the Islamist jihadist agenda in Nigeria being mocked by people who do not even know him.”