TheCable

Despite the report of another “illegal” arms deal botched by the South African government, the Nigerian government has maintained that is nothing shady about the deal and has therefore called for the release of a total of $15 million seized in two separate incidents within a month.

On September 15, South Africa had impounded the sum of $9.3 million found in a private jet that flew from Nigeria into an airport in Johannesburg.

Three weeks later, its Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority also seized the sum of $5.7 million, claiming that it was the proceed of illegal transactions.

But Sambo Dasuki, Nigeria’s national security adviser, says there was no illegal deal and has warned South Africa not to allow the issue to degenerate into a diplomatic showdown.

“It is our hope that South Africa would reciprocate this noble gesture,” Dasuki said, vowing to eradicate Boko Haram regardless of the antics of “fifth columnists”.

“We want to state clearly that a business transaction actually took place between a legitimate company in Nigeria and another legitimate one in South Africa through the bank,” Karounwi Adekunle, his spokesman, quoted him as saying.

“In the course of events, the South African company could not perform and decided to refund the money. What is illegitimate in this transaction done through the bank?”

He further said that South Africa should be mindful of the fact that Nigeria has provided a suitable environment for MTN, Multichoice, among other of South African business interests in the country.