Buhari Vanguard Calls For Immediate Arrest Of Oristejafor Over Arms Smuggling Scandal
Category: Nigerian National News
Sepember 16, 2014. Lagos
In a statement released today, the Chairman of The Buhari
Vanguard, Jasper Azuatalam, demanded that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor be arrested
for his involvement in the South African arms smuggling operation foiled
yesterday, when two Nigerians and an Israeli man were stopped in South African
with close to $10million in cash.
Condemning the illegal operation and the suspicious handling
of a purported arms purchase, the Buhari Vanguard made the assertion that the
weaponry was being purchased for use by terrorists, pirates, and other
militants in the Niger Delta.
"This contravention of the South African law and other
laws governing the movement of cash and the purchase of arms and ammunition
proves that the intended transaction was illegal and is possibly intended to
smuggle arms to Nigerian to continue to equip terrorists in the North, pirates
and militants in the Niger Delta and other forms of insurgence in
Nigeria," the statement claimed.
The statement also charged that this move might be a
political ploy to malign the 2015 presidential election, given the relationship
between Pastor Oritsejafor and President Jonathan. "We are aware that Pastor
Ayo Oritsejafor is a very close confidant and friend/brother to President
Goodluck Jonathan and his family," it said. "We have several reasons
to believe that this is in preparation for the 2015 general election."
Arrest and Investigate Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Now Over His
Link with the Alleged Arms Smuggling Jet in South Africa
Sepember 16, 2014. Lagos
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, yesterday we received the
news that two Nigerians and an Israeli was caught in South Africa for smuggling
about US$10 million, which is about 1.7 Billion Naira, to buy arms. Today,
further revelations have proved that the private jets used for the operation
are owned by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of
Nigeria CAN and Mr Felix Idiga, the owner of Jafac Aviation Limited.
According to the revelation, the private jet with a US
registration number N808HG was one of two jets cited by South African officials
on September 5 and is owned by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. The second is a jet
registered with the name Felix Idiga, the owner of Jafac Aviation Limited. Mr.
Oritsejafor's jet arrived South Africa with $9.3 million cash loaded in several
suitcases meant for the purchase of arms and ammunitions.
Investigations have confirmed that Under the South African
laws, a person entering or leaving the country is expected to carry cash not
exceeding R25, 000 (about US$2, 300), or the equivalent in foreign currency
notes. Also, arms usually involve a
complex bank transfer system needed to move the money between the countries
involved in the deal; they are rarely done in cash.
This contravention of the South African law and other laws
governing the movement of cash and the purchase of arms and ammunitions proves
that the intended transaction was illegal and is possibly intended to smuggle
arms to Nigerian to continue to equip terrorists in the North, pirates and
militants in the Niger Delta and other forms of insurgence in Nigeria. We have
several reasons to believe that this is in preparation for the 2015 general
election.
We are aware that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is a very close
confidant and friend/brother to President Goodluck Jonathan and his family. We
also know that the federal Government of Nigeria has several official private
jets and knows the normal procedure for procuring arms and ammunition for the
nation. Hence, there would not have been a reason to use a private jet
belonging to Pastor Oritsejafor to smuggle Millions of Dollars and attempt to
buy arms in a way that contravenes international laws.
In view of this, the Buhari Vanguard demands that Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor, the leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and a close
friend to President Goodluck Jonathan, alongside Mr Felix Idiga, the owner of
Jafac Aviation Limited be immediately arrested by Security operatives and
investigated.
We also demand that the names of the two Nigerians and
Israeli who smuggled the Millions of Dollars in South Africa be made public.
Our nation should be on alert owing to the high level of insurgence ravaging
our country Nigeria and our government should be able to act fast to forestall
further damage to our nation.
God Bless Nigeria
Com Jasper Azuatala
Chairman, Buhari Vanguard
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