By Festus Keyamo
I have just read, with some amusement, the position of the Federal Government regarding the cash totaling $9.3 million that was seized by the South African authorities as an attempt was made to smuggle it into that country. from my little understanding, the Federal Government's position can be summarised as follows:
*Keyamo
*That it is aware of the movement of such large sum of money by cash
out of the country.
*That the cash is meant for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency.
*That the transaction was done by cash to ensure the speed of the transaction.
*That it resorted to buy fromSouth
Africa because of procedural bottlenecks in
the purchase of such items from western countries.
*That the cash is meant for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency.
*That the transaction was done by cash to ensure the speed of the transaction.
*That it resorted to buy from
The
above position of the Federal Government is not only ludicrous, it is
laughable, untenable and a story only fit to be told to the marines. The
following rhetoric posers are germane to this issue:
Is it really faster and safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or by a simple wire transfer that can go through in a matter of few minutes or few hours?
If, indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by a foreign government like Nigeria , why was the South African Government not brought into the picture beforehand? How could the South African Government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by insurgents if they were not officially informed beforehand?
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Nigerian
President, Goodluck Jonathan (pix:bdlive)
If
indeed the manufacturer(s) of such equipment was/were expecting such large
amount by cash, why did they not make adequate arrangements with the
authorities in South Africa
to declare and clear the cash on arrival?
Why
was money belonging to the Federal Government and meant for purchase of
equipment for the Federal Government moved by a private jet and by private
individuals and why were they not accompanied by the officials of the
Department of State Services or the office of the National Security Adviser in
official capacities?
Why
would a government that is at the peak of promoting the cashless policy in our
economy be the chief breaker of that policy by moving such a large amount by
cash?
If,
indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the Federal Government, why were the
officials of our embassy in South
Africa not on hand to make the entry easier
and smoother?
Since
the South African Government has said the amount is above the limit of cash
allowed into that country, why would a whole government like Nigeria not
know the simple immigration laws of a sister and friendly country before
allowing that type of amount of cash to be taken to that country?
Why
would the Nigerian government seek to smuggle cash into a country without
disclosure if it was, indeed, for a legitimate transaction?
pix:parkvia
pix:parkvia
From
where did the Federal Government source that amount in Nigeria ? Was it
from the Central Bank of Nigeria
or from the black market? Nigerians demand answers to this with proof.
Is
it just a wicked coincidence that it is the aircraft belonging to a personal
friend and unapologetic ally of the President in the person of Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor (my big brother in Warri), that was used to smuggle the cash?
If,
contrary to the above posers, the transaction was contracted out to a private
company in Nigeria, does it not amount to the offence of Money Laundering under
our laws for the Federal Government to have allowed that company to attempt to
pay for the equipment by cash to the tune of that amount without passing
through a financial institution?
The truth is, any transaction the world
over that is done by cash, in a huge volume like this and in this manner can
only point to one thing: It is an illegal transaction or a transaction for an
illegal purpose that is meant to be untraceable. This was a covert, illegal
operation that went horribly wrong. The position of the Federal Government is a
cock-and-bull story meant to be shoved down the throat of Nigerians, but some
of us are not fools.
The
hard fact we must all accept now is that billions of our hard-earned monies are
being smuggled out of the country on a regular basis under the guise of
security matters and with the active connivance of security agencies. Little
wonder, then, that the insurgency, rather than waning, is gathering momentum
because certain persons, somewhere, are feeding fat on the situation whilst
innocent lives and limbs are being wasted.
May
God help us all.
Thank
you.
FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.
Nigerians will jaw-jaw for a few days and let it fly, just as they do with many other strange happenings in that country.
ReplyDeleteIf you want strong, purposeful leadership, be willing to demand it
This is a huge embarrassment to the country. Both by the attempt to smuggle this money into South Africa and the infantile position of the Federal Government, Nigeria has been ridiculed before the world. This is most unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad day for Nigeria. South Africans are having a huge laugh at our expense and Nigeria's esteem has been further diminished by this singular act.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. We all need to weep for this country.
ReplyDelete