Buhari to probe Jonathan’s $9.7m failed arms contract

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to probe the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s deal.
He is to  take up the issue with President Jacob Zuma.
The cash was seized by South African security men last September as it was being transferred into their country on a private jet by agents of the Federal Government.
Former President Jonathan’s government claimed that the money was meant to purchase arms from private companies in South Africa.
According to the government, Nigeria resorted to private purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram because the United States declined to sell arms to the country, in addition to persuading its allies not to allow sale of arms and ammunition to the country.
But eyebrows were raised about the manner the money was taken to South Africa.

“I will attempt to ask him (President Zuma) about our $9.7 million which was not correctly transferred,” Buhari told Nigerians in South Africa during a meeting with them in Johannesburg to round off his visit to the country for the African Union (AU) Summit.
He said: “I’m told there are 83 Nigerians in prisons, I don’t know what they have done but I spoke to the President of South Africa this afternoon. He wants to come to Nigeria. There are issues we will talk about, I will certainly talk to him, I hope our ambassador will send a comprehensive report about the court cases, about those who lost properties during the disturbances.”

The South African authorities froze $9.3 million transported in cash by two Nigerians and an Israeli for arms purchase. At the time, South Africa said the transaction violated its laws on movement of cash.
The two Nigerians and an Israeli were arrested at the  Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, on September 5 in a private jet from Abuja.