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 to be 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 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,” 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
September 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 Azuatalam
Chairman, Buhari Vanguard