Contrary to reports, South Africa still holding Nigeria’s seized $15 million arms money

Contrary to widespread reports in the Nigeria media, the South African government has not returned the $15 million seized from arms dealers purportedly buying arms for the Nigerian military.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the money remains frozen in South Africa and has not been returned to the Nigerian government.

In October, several media articles quoting the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, reported that the money seized in connection with two dubious arms deal had been released to the Nigerian government.

However, Mr. Mnguni has told PREMIUM TIMES that the reports are false. Apart from the High Commissioner, the spokesperson of the South African National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, Nathi Mncube, and a South African source that is knowledgeable about the matter but requested not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES in separate correspondences that the money was yet to be released to the Nigeria government.

Rather than return the money, there is possibility that the money may never be returned to the Nigerian government again…