Contrary to stories making the rounds that the South African government has released the $15million cash for arms money seized by it during former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s government, the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, Wednesday, said there was no information on the reported release, adding that he is yet to get any brief on the issue from his government, The Punch reports.
According to the report, Mnguni said he had no update on the release of the money, adding that he would not be able to speak further on the issue. He also added that it was not ideal for the Nigerian government to read about the matter in the media without being briefed.
He said: “We have not heard anything (from South Africa), even if we hear anything, we still have to communicate it to the government of Nigeria, we can’t go to the press without talking to the (Nigerian) government. We have to talk first to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The report further quoted the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode as saying the ministry does not have any update on the release of the money yet.
Similarly, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation confirmed to the newspaper that it had no records that the seized amount has been returned to the government.
The Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, speaking through his media office said: “The truth is that we don’t have any evidence to that effect and there is nothing here now to show it has been returned.
“In any case, if it’s returned, it won’t come to us straight and we won’t know immediately. It will go to the office where the fund was first released before such records get to us.
“So, I advise you check with the agency from where the money was released for the arms acquisition deal.”
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