CAPE TOWN: South Africa has to pay back Nigeria the $9.3m it seized at Lanseria Airport in terms of an order which should end a diplomatic row over allegations of illegal arms deals and money laundering.
In terms of an agreement, the Nigerian government can only buy its military equipment through South Africa’s Armscor when it does deals in the country.
At one point in the drawn out saga to get its money back, the Nigerian government said the South African presidency had instructed that the money be returned to them after they laid claim to the piles of notes found in the luggage of an Israeli arms dealer.
It had written: “We have been reliably informed that the South African presidency has directed that litigation against the seized money should be withdrawn since the Nigerian government… confirmed that the money was given to the arms contractor for the purpose of leasing six humanitarian helicopters from South Africa.”
This was quickly rebuffed by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), who said only a court could instruct them to give the money back.
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