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Confusion trails refund of $15m cash for arms

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Contrary to statements credited to the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki that his office secured the release of the $15 million cash for arms seized by the South African government, that country has contradicted such development.

South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, on Wednesday told Punch that there was no information on the reported release of the funds that was confiscated in 2014, and that he had yet to get any brief on the issue from his government.

But following reports that Dasuki explored legal and diplomatic channels to effect the release of the money to the Federal Government before he left office on July 13,2015, Mnguni again said he had no update on the release of the money, adding that he would not be able to speak further on the issue.

According to him, it was not ideal for the Nigerian government to read about the matter in the media without being briefed.

He said, “We have not heard anything (from South Africa), even if we hear anything, we still have to communicate it to the government of Nigeria, we can’t go to the press without talking to the (Nigerian) government. We have to talk first to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also did not have any information on the issue. It’s spokesperson, Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, said he did not have any update on it.

On his part, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation said that it had no records that the seized amount has been returned to the government.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, who spoke through his media office said, “The truth is that we don’t have any evidence to that effect and there is nothing here now to show it has been returned.

“In any case, if it’s returned it won’t come to us straight and we won’t know immediately. It will go to the office where the funds was first released before such records get to us.

“So, I advise you check with the agency from where the money was released for the arms acquisition deal.”

Read also: Buhari questions $9.7m cash for arms

The Assets Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority had confiscated the $15m meant for purchase of arms by the FG in two separate tranches of $9.3m and $5.7m.

The first tranche of $9.3m cash was found stashed in three suit cases by two Nigerians and an Israeli at Lanseria Airport, north of Johannesburg in September, 2014 while the second amount was seized three weeks after.

The federal government later admitted it was behind the arms deal, claiming it acted out of desperation for arms to defeat the Boko Haram sect.

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