Former Christian Association of Nigeria President Ayo Oritsejafor recalled how he first learned that his aircraft was linked to a controversial arms procurement operation.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Ayo Oritsejafor, former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said he was staying in a hotel when he received information that his private aircraft had been used to transport money connected to an arms procurement mission in South Africa. According to his account, the news came as a surprise because the aircraft had already been leased to another company for charter operations.
Oritsejafor explained that he was not directly involved in the transaction and maintained that the aircraft was under the control of operators handling charter services at the time. He said the arrangement meant that decisions regarding the use of the aircraft rested with the company managing it. Reports from 2014 showed that South African authorities seized $9.3 million that arrived aboard the aircraft and said the cash had not been properly declared.
Speaking on the controversy, Oritsejafor insisted that he had no prior knowledge of the movement of the funds. He stated that he would never participate in any activity capable of damaging his reputation or the image of the Christian community. According to previous public statements, he repeatedly maintained that the aircraft had been leased out and that any transaction involving it should not automatically be linked to him personally.
The controversy began in September 2014 when South African authorities intercepted the cash carried by two Nigerians and an Israeli national. Nigerian officials at the time said the money was intended for the purchase of security equipment and arms, while questions emerged over the method used to move the funds. The incident attracted national attention and generated political reactions across Nigeria.
Several years later, the matter remains one of the most discussed controversies involving a private aircraft linked to a prominent religious leader. Oritsejafor has consistently denied direct involvement, while various reports and investigations have continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the transaction.
The development means renewed public interest in one of Nigeria’s most notable political and security controversies. It also highlights ongoing discussions about accountability, transparency and the procedures used in sensitive national security transactions.
Ayo Oritsejafor Speaks On Jet Used For Arms Deal
