Arms deal: South Africa to return $9.34m to Nigeria in November

The South African government has resolved to hand over the sum of $9.34m to the Nigerian government on November 30, 2015.

The money was confiscated by the South African authorities from an Israeli arms dealer, Eyal Mesika, of Cyprus-based ESD International, while he was acting on behalf of the Federal Government for arm procurement.

Nigeria would will receive the confiscated sum on November 30, 2015.

The paper reported that the arms dealer would be released without prosecution and the South African government would be open to discussions with Nigeria on further deals on arms.

“That is the result of a quiet deal finalising a year-long international wrangle after South African Customs officials and police stopped a man who flew into Lanseria Airport from Nigeria carrying bags stuffed with $9.34m cash for a ‘humanitarian’ arms deal,” the report said.

It was further revealed that two weeks ago, the National Prosecuting Authority of SA resolved to release the cash to the Defence Adviser at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.

“The high court in Pretoria order technically declares the money forfeited to the state, but also refers to the Nigerian government as “the innocent victim” and excludes its interests from the forfeiture order, which means Nigeria gets the money. The handover is on November 30 if there is no further legal challenge,” it added.

The report further said the NPA spokesperson, Luvuyo Mfaku, said Nigeria had in February applied for its interest in the money to be excluded from the order, which was done.

“There is no criminal prosecution arising from this matter,” said Mfaku.

The court papers outlined what happened after the flight landed on September 5 last year.

The man with the money was an Israeli arms dealer, Mesika, and Nigeria’s involvement had emerged only later.

Ideally, amounts over $10, 000 must be declared, but Mesika did not declare it until after officials scanned the bags and they could not work out what was in them. Subsequently, they asked him to explain.