A special intelligent team mobilized to unveil the mystery behind the alleged $ 9.3million arms deal between Nigeria and South Africa has concluded their reports on the investigation.
The panel has however declared that the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor and Alhaji Mujahideen Asari Dokubo are innocent of all allegations leveled against them in connection with the deal.
A private aircraft belonging to CAN president, Ayo Oritsejafor was used to convey some unnamed persons and the cash to South Africa to secretly purchase arms to help bolster Nigeria’s fight against terrorism in the northern parts of the country
The alleged involvement of these two southern personalities triggered a widespread speculation in the media and sentiments being expressed by Nigerians on the issue of religious division.
However, an undisclosed sources from the panel have confirmed to newsmen on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 that the panel set up to investigate the matter has cleared the CAN President and has also discard allegations that Asari Dokubo was on the flight.
According to the source, “A Special Team, comprising security agents, intelligence experts and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigated the $9.3m cash-for- arms deal and submitted its report to the Presidency.
“The committee confirmed that the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsajefor had no connection with the transaction.
“It was true that the CAN President’s jet was used but we found out that it was without his knowledge. As at the time in question, the aircraft was on lease. And you may be aware that the lease trend is peculiar to private jet owners in the country.
“It is the view of the committee that Oritsajefor cannot be held liable for any shuttle made by a lease firm.
“As for the manifest of the plane, the committee also discovered that the Niger Delta activist, Mujahedeen Asari Dokubo was not among those on board the transaction aircraft. There was no mention of Dokubo in the manifest presented during the investigation.”
Speaking with reporters, the source also expressed concern on how the matter was made public by South African authorities in the first place, as it was evident that an end user certificate which was duly signed by the Office National Security Adviser was presented by those who were on the plane.
“The committee’s findings revealed that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has the statutorily and legitimately mandate to issue end-user certificate for such arms transactions. The imputations surrounding the role of the ONSA were unfounded, baseless and ill-motivated.
“The decision of South Africa to return $15million to Nigeria lent credence to the legality of the transaction” saying “ Certainly, Nigeria had no case to answer”, source added
