El-Rufai – Oritsejafor Shouldn’t Blame Me For His Jet Scandal

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el’Rufai, has accused the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, of resorting to abuse after his futile efforts to shake off his connection to the aircraft used for smuggling $9.3m cash from Nigeria to South Africa.

The CAN in a statement on Tuesday admitted that the aircraft was owned by Eagle Air Company in which Oritsejafor had interest, but added that the story of the arrest of the aircraft in South Africa was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress and some members of the party including el-Rufai.

The South African police are said to be investigating two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen who tried to bring the money (about N1.5bn) in cash into the country illegally as part of an arms deal.

In his response to CAN on Wednesday, the former minister in a statement by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, said Oritsejafor should be more reflective about the incident rather than resorting to abuse.

He said, “When light unexpectedly shines on murkiness, those exposed by the stinging rays often berate the light rather than regret the muck.

“That is the plight of Ayo Oritsejafor whose private jet was identified as the vessel impounded by the South African authorities for ferrying $9.3m cash into their country.

“A statement from Eagle Air admitted Oritsejafor’s interests in the aircraft, but said it leased the plane to Green Coast which in turn acknowledged hiring the plane out for the trip to South Africa.

“Unable to shake off his connection to the plane, Oritsejafor has resorted to abuse and vilification. Were he more reflective, he would be pondering how, of all the private jets available in Nigeria, it was his that came to be involved in a covert arms purchase scandal.

“Would he have managed any objectivity if the plane involved happened to belong to a prominent person of another faith or political persuasion?”

NiegerianEye