Reps split over seized $9.3m cash

The House of Representatives was sharply divided, yesterday, with All Progressives Congress, APC, members staging a walk-out over failure of the House to commence debate on the $9.3 million cash that was allegedly smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli  for the purpose of purchasing arms for the Nigerian Intelligence Service.

The Senate on its part said it has commenced investigations into the arms deal which the Federal Government said was a legitimate transaction.

The House of Representatives motion which was stepped down last week Thursday, entitled: “The Need to Investigate the attempt to smuggle $9.3m cash into South Africa” and sponsored by Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Kawu Sumaila was rejected without a debate.

The APC lawmakers who could not believe the development stormed out of the chambers angrily, abandoning the rest of the proceedings for their Peoples Democratic Party colleagues.

The APC lawmaker had noted that the fact that the money was   not declared   at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja where the aircraft took off , and in South Africa raised grave concerns.