ANOTHER $5.7M SEIZED IN SOUTH AFRICA: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

6^th October, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

ANOTHER $5.7M SEIZED IN SOUTH AFRICA: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The South African Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has allegedly seized another $5.7 million belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria. It will be recalled that the whopping sum of $9.3 million was seized in the same manner last month in the same country.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is greatly perturbed by this festival of international embarrassments as a result of clandestine misadventures of the Nigerian government.

We told Nigerians when the first incident occurred that there was more to it than met the eyes. We have been proved right. With this second international misconduct, we are convinced that our government has been engaging in this criminal act for long.

We strongly suspect that billions of dollars have been siphoned outside this country by the powers of today. It cannot be South Africa alone. Fortunes must have been illegally shipped to Eastern Europe, Switzerland and South America. Israel must also have been seen as a safe haven by the kleptomaniacs in government.

It is needless asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate. They cannot investigate their employer. President Jonathan institutionalized corruption when on 5^th May, 2014 he described “70% of corruption cases” in Nigeria as “common stealing”. That statement was meant for Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies. The top echelons of the Federal Government appear to possess the noun ‘thief’ and the verb ‘to steal’.

Apart from the corruption angle, the involvement of the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in one of the deals is still a curious development. It evolves a conspiracy theory capable of igniting tension between Christians and Muslims.

The National Assembly must not desert the electorate at this crucial hour. Our legislators must ask probing questions on our behalf. There must be no sacred cows. Enough is enough.

MURIC appeals to the international community not to leave Nigeria alone in these trying times. We call on other countries through which Nigerian money has been ferried to speak up. We charge the United Nations to institute an international investigation into these cases of money-laundering and illegal arms deals.     

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)