— Senate begins probe of South Africa arms fiasco
By Joshua Egbodo
and Ezrel Tabiowo, Abuja
The controversial $9.3 million smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli, purportedly to purchase firearms for a yet to be named Nigerian intelligence agency, yesterday created a row in the House of Representatives when a motion on the matter was brought up for debate.
Members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a walk-out from the plenary sitting of the House, when a motion moved on the matter by the Deputy Minority Leader, Abdulrahman Kawu, was refused debate by members, mostly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) extraction, citing security implications of the issues involved.
Kawu had prayed the House to investigate the matter through its committees on defence and aviation.
In the opinion of the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who was presiding, it was better to refer the matter to a committee, a suggestion that resulted in heated arguments and eventual call for voice vote, in which majority members voted against further debate on the matter.
However, the APC caucus described the development as “very scandalous, very disgraceful and very appalling.”
The caucus later at a media briefing said they were concerned because the issue was becoming a shame to the country, adding that the country is now a laughing stock in the comity of nations.
The Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, who addressed the media in company of all APC members, said: “We are here this afternoon to bare our minds on a very scandalous, very disgraceful and very appalling event that took place a week ago that borders on the image of our country, Nigeria.
“Let me state clearly that we are not just here as the members of the APC caucus of the House; we are also here as concerned Nigerians who hold the mandate of the Nigerian people to defend their interest, to ensure that corruption is reduced to the barest minimum, if not totally eliminated, to ensure that our country’s integrity remains intact in the eyes of the international community.
“We are all aware that a week ago or so, the South African government impounded an aircraft purportedly belonging to a top religious leader in this country that was used to carry $9.3 million. They were said to be in mints and have never been used.
“As if that was not enough, the federal government has come up to own up that it was such money was carried and that it was made for the purchase of arms and ammunitions for the purpose of fighting insurgency.
“The questions that we have for the federal government are as follows:
“Is it faster or safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or simply wire transfer that can go through in matter of seconds or matter of few hours?
“If, indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African government not brought into the picture beforehand and how could South African government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by the insurgents when there were no officials of the NSA’s office or the director of State Security department that accompanied such money?”
Meanwhile, the Senate has commenced probe on the controversial money.
The disclosure was made yesterday by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Thompson Sekibo, immediately after a closed-door meeting between the committee and the Service Chiefs represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, and the Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah.
While speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Sekibo said, “We are still investigating, we have started the investigation, when we get through the investigation we’ll brief you. The money belongs to Nigerian government.”
Sekibo said the Senate was digging to find out details and facts of what happened following several questions raised.
Reacting to the alleged mutiny which led to the death sentence passed on 12 soldiers, the senator, who represents Rivers East in the Senate, said the upper chamber was not under pressure to intervene in the matter.
He said: “No, we are not, because the Armed Forces is established by an Act of the National Assembly. The Act spelt out categorically the conduct of the soldiers and the way they are to behave wherever they are.
“If you join the military, that Act is to guide you and your conduct. If you go contrary to any of the prescribed sections of the Act the punishment prescribed for the Act you violated will come on you.
“So, the military did not just wake up one day and said that they are going to kill Mr. A or Mr. B. They went through the necessary processes and they found them guilty.
“But I think that those found guilty also have a way out. They can go on appeal and if the appeal finds them not guilty that will be it. But for what the military has done, they have done the best thing; because you must instill discipline in the Armed Forces.
“If you don’t do so, one day all of us here will be sacked and you will not hear of this place.”
