The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor
Ayo Oristejafor, yesterday broke his silence over the controversial $9.3
million seized by South African authorities in his private jet.
The South African authorities, it would be recalled, seized $9.3
million from two Nigerians and an Israeli national who flew into the
country with a jet belonging to Oritsejafor.
The CAN boss who spoke at an emergency meeting of the expanded
National Executive Council, NEC, of CAN in Abuja said, “I will not do
anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ.”
He explained that he leased the jet in “order to ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft.”
“So far, I have refrained from making any direct public response
pending the time I will brief the leaders of the church and explain my
position on the issue to them. I believe that the primary institution
that I owe any explanation to is the church. I thank everyone who has
stood by me these past days 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 also assure you that I will not do
anything to tarnish the image of God.
I wish to confirm to the leaders of the church that the Bombardier
Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine and it was presented to me
as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners worldwide
at the 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry. The aircraft was
not given to me by the president of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement
for any political favour or patronage.
Permit me therefore to state clearly before God and before all of you
here present today that I am not a party to the movement of $9.3
million from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunitions. I
am not part of the deal. I know nothing about it. In order to
ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft, I sought and got
permit to allow the aircraft fly in and out of Nigeria and it was based
on this that I leased the aircraft on August 2, 2014 to a company to run
it.
It was the lessee that entered into an agreement with the people who
carried out the transfer of funds. Having leased the aircraft to the
Green Coast Produce Company Limited, any transaction undertaken with the
aircraft can no longer be attached to me. It is clear that those who
manipulated this conspiracy desire to create schism in the church.”