SENIOR Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, has faulted the South African government for exposing two botched arms deals that led to the seizure of $15 million from Nigeria, maintaining that the deal should have been kept as a secret between both countries.
Speaking on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, Okupe said such deals had become a norm across the world, adding that the high level of insecurity in the country forced Nigeria to reach the decision to procure arms through such means.
He wondered why South Africa, which must have gone through a similar process in the past, resolved to embarrass the country, adding that there was nothing illegal about the transaction.
“A company was selected to do a job for the Federal Government of Nigeria and because of extant laws within South Africa, it was not able to deliver the job. The company wanted to refund, then the South African government just jumped issues and said they smelled a rat,” he added.
Okupe said disagreement between both countries on certain matters could have prompted the South African government to blow the lid open.