TheCable

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the founder of the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta state, on Tuesday confirmed ownership of the aircraft inside which the sum of $9.3m was found at a South African airport on September 5.

Mr Bayo Adewoye, the personal assistant to Oritsejafor, disclosed this at the headquarters of the church in Warri, delta state.

“On behalf of Pastor Oritsejafor, we can confirm that although he holds an interest in Eagle Air, the aircraft in question is not operated by Pastor Oritsejafor,” Adewoye said in a statement.

“The aircraft owned by Eagle Air company, who have confirmed that since August 2, 2014, the aircraft has been leased to and is operated by Green Coast Produce Limited. This is a standard practice in the industry.

“Any and all enquiries in respect of the day-to-day operations of this aircraft are properly directed to the management of Green Coast Produce Limited.”

General manager of Eagle Air Company, Mr. Emmanuel Ohaeri, also claimed holding “a residual interest” in the aircraft, but said the company has leased it to Green Coast Produce Limited since August 2.

“Our attention has been drawn to press reports in respect of an aircraft (Bombardier Challenger 600, Registration No N808HG) in which our company holds a residual interest,” a company statement said.

“We wish to confirm that the said aircraft has since the August 2, 2014, been leased to and is operated by Green Coast Produce Limited. The company and Mr. Ortisejafor’s church advised that all media enquiries in respect of the day-to-day operations of the aircraft be directed to the management of Green Coast Produce Limited.”

It then issued  another statement, saying the aircraft was in turn hired from it by John Ishyaku, so it would not be liable for any alleged infractions either in Nigeria or South Africa after the hire.

“On September 5, 2014, the aircraft was hired from us by a John Ishyaku,” company director, Shima Adun, said.

“The charter to John Ishyaku was upon the following documented terms: (a) Depart Abuja-Johannesburg on the 5th of September 2014 (b) Return to Abuja on the 6th of September 2014 (c) To wait and return with the passengers”. The company said as with every other aircraft charter company, its knowledge of the cargo carried on the aircraft was in accordance with the information provided by ABC Limited.

“All cargoes were accompanied by passenger who could readily defend the contents. We are not and cannot be privy to any alleged extraneous cargo transported on the aircraft other than that declared in the agreed terms of hire. We are not liable and cannot be construed as a party to any alleged infractions, either in Nigeria or South Africa as the case may be, after the hire of the aircraft.”

On Monday, two Nigerians (one of whom was arrested) and an Israeli were questioned in Johannesburg for allegedly attempting to smuggle $9.3m into South Africa.

Adrian Lackay, spokesperson for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), said three suitcases full of cash were discovered when the passengers’ luggage was unloaded and put through the scanners at Lanseria international airport. He said the money was to be used to procure weapons, but lacked clearance from the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, which had to approve the import and export of any weapons as well as issue permits for such transactions in South Africa.