$9.3M Arms Deal Scandal: Pastor Oritsejafor Tells His Part Of The Story

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday spoke to the controversial $9.3 million cash allegedly smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli using his private jet. The money, which has been confiscated by a South African court, was said to be for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian Intelligence Services. Explaining his own side of the story yesterday at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of CAN in Abuja, Pastor Oritsejafor denied any involvement or knowledge of the deal to buy arms in South Africa, noting that enemies of Christians were fuelling the division of CAN. Read statement below:

He said, “The media has been awash in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa. In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction. So far I have refrained from making any direct public statement pending the time that I would have briefed the leaders of the church and explained my position on the issues to them. 

“I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church. Permit me to thank everyone who stood by me these past days by ways of prayers, as well as strongly defending me even though I have not undertaken any public defence of myself. 

“I am particularly appreciative of the valuable support of the Catholic Church in refuting a distorted news item by mischievous elements in the media. I wish to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the Church.