According to a South African news website, its government will return the $9.34m seized arms-deal money, to the Nigerian government on November 30. South African authorities seized the money from an Israeli arms dealer, Eyal Mesika, of ESD International, when he landed in Lanseria Airport, on September 5, 2014. The Israeli dealer, Mesika, whose company is based in Cyprus, was acting at the behest of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government, purportedly to purchase arms for the Boko Haram war. The report by beta.iol.co.za, stated that apart from releasing the money to Nigeria, the South African government would also free Mesika without prosecution. “That is the result of a quiet deal finalising a year-long international wrangle after South African Customs officials and police stopped a man who flew into Lanseria Airport from Nigeria carrying bags stuffed with $9.34m cash for a ‘humanitarian’ arms deal.” Furthermore, the report said that the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, had agreed to release the funds to the Defence Adviser at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria. “The high court in Pretoria order technically declares the money forfeited to the state, but also refers to the Nigerian government as “the innocent victim” and excludes its interests from the forfeiture order, which means Nigeria gets the money. The handover is on November 30 if there is no further legal challenge.” It was also revealed by the website’s report that the fiasco, has paved the way for future arms deals between Nigeria and South Africa.
Saturday, 31 October 2015
South Africa to release Nigeria’s $9.3m, arms dealer spared, more deals expected (DETAILS)
According to a South African news website, its government will return the $9.34m seized arms-deal money, to the Nigerian government on November 30. South African authorities seized the money from an Israeli arms dealer, Eyal Mesika, of ESD International, when he landed in Lanseria Airport, on September 5, 2014. The Israeli dealer, Mesika, whose company is based in Cyprus, was acting at the behest of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government, purportedly to purchase arms for the Boko Haram war. The report by beta.iol.co.za, stated that apart from releasing the money to Nigeria, the South African government would also free Mesika without prosecution. “That is the result of a quiet deal finalising a year-long international wrangle after South African Customs officials and police stopped a man who flew into Lanseria Airport from Nigeria carrying bags stuffed with $9.34m cash for a ‘humanitarian’ arms deal.” Furthermore, the report said that the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, had agreed to release the funds to the Defence Adviser at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria. “The high court in Pretoria order technically declares the money forfeited to the state, but also refers to the Nigerian government as “the innocent victim” and excludes its interests from the forfeiture order, which means Nigeria gets the money. The handover is on November 30 if there is no further legal challenge.” It was also revealed by the website’s report that the fiasco, has paved the way for future arms deals between Nigeria and South Africa.
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