It seems the issue of the frozen weapon deal has taken a
different twist as reports indicate that Nigeria may retaliate the decision of
the South African Government to seize the sum of $9.3 million, and $5.7
million, allegedly meant for the purchase of arms
A top official in the office of Nigeria’s National Security
Adviser told Agence France-Presse that Nigeria
had an agreement to buy $5.7 million worth of military hardware in a deal
brokered by a South African firm.
The official, who on condition of anonymity, said Pretoria
had frozen cash that had been wired to the South African firm’s account.
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority made no
immediate comment, but the asset freeze has been widely reported in both
Nigerian and South African media.
“The issue could affect bilateral relations
between Nigeria and South Africa,” the NSA official said.
The official was specific about MTN as one of the companies
that can be affected if Nigeria should go ahead with its threat.
“You cannot be making so much money from Nigeria
and then turn around and embarrass the people,” the Nigerian official said.
He said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had
called his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma to inform him about the
purchase and Abuja was therefore surprised to learn that the deal had been
blocked.
Spokesman of the South African President, Mac Maharaj
declined to comment on the reported conversation between the two leaders, but
told AFP the president was not
part of the committee that reviews arms deals.
The NSA official did not identify the South African broker.
The website of South Africa’s City Press named the firm as
the Cape Town-based Cerberus Risk Solutions but that could not be independently
verified.
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