South Africa insists on Criminal Probe Against Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor $9.3m scandal

There are strong indications that efforts of the
Federal Government to ensure amicable
settlement of issues surrounding the $9.3m
seized by South Africa have failed.
South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority,
in an email to our correspondent in Abuja on
Thursday, said that the matter was still under
criminal investigations.

There were reports on Wednesday that $9.3m,
which was seized from two Nigerians and an
Israeli in Johannesburg, was meant for
procurement of arms for intelligence agencies
in Nigeria.
It was also reported that the Federal
Government was aware of the move to
procure arms.

Online newspapers had
reported that the Federal Government had
begun diplomatic talks with South Africa to
ensure resolution of the issue.
Government agencies in Nigeria, such as
Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigeria
Immigration Service and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, kept mum over the seized
fund.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had said
that it did not take the issue of money
laundering lightly.

But South Africa's NPA's spokesman, Nathi
Mncube, in a response to an enquiry by our
correspondent, said, "The matter is under
criminal investigations by the Directorate of
Priority Crimes of Investigations unit at South
African Police Services.

"NPA does not comment on pending
investigations and therefore cannot comment
any other than providing the information
contained in our media statement."
The NPA, in a statement sent to our
correspondent on Thursday, said that its asset
forfeiture unit had obtained "an order in the
North Gauteng High Court freezing a cash
amount of US$9.34m (about R102m)."
According to the agency, the money is
currently kept safe by the South African
Reserve Bank
Giving an insight into the seizure, it said, "The
cash consisted of 90 blocks of $100, 000 each
and was found in two black plastic suitcases."
The NPA stated that the order freezing the
money was granted in terms of the Prevention
of Organised Crime Act which "provides that
property that is used to commit a crime can be
frozen while the NPA applies for a final order
to forfeit the money to the state."
It stated that the money was initially detained
by the South African Revenue Service as it was
not disclosed or declared at customs, and was
above the prescribed legal limit for the
amount of cash that could be brought into the
country.

According to the statement, the NPA also
submitted to the court that, although various
explanations about the money were given to
the investigating officer, these explanations
were riddled with discrepancies.
The jet bearing the money, Bombardier
Challenger 6000, was said to belong to the
President of the Christian Association of
Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Though it was gathered that the presidency revealed
that Pastor Ayo's jet was actually used by FG to purchase weapons to oƑ course tackle and fight Terrorism and insecurity generally.

Source: Punch

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