$9.3m Arms Deal: Ayo Oritsejafor Is Innocent”- Presidency

The federal government on Sunday exonerated the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of blame in the involvement of his aircraft in the $9.3m controversial arms deal in South Africa.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan (Public Communication), Dr. Doyin Okupe, told Religious Affairs correspondents in Abuja that over 200 Nigerians own Private Jets and Pastor Oritsejafor happens to be one of them.

According to Okupe Oritsejafor, who is also the founder of Word of Life Bible Church, is innocent and has no business with the said deal.

Most Nigerians do not also respect the sensibilities of other people, he added.

Okupe Opined that Oritsejafor is the President of CAN and head of all Christians in Nigeria who is representing at least 50 per cent of people in this country.

When it comes to a man like that, people should be cautious and circumspect”, Okupe advised.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for the first time when he spoke about the $9.3 m arms deal in which his aircraft was used to ferry the money and which has generated controversy with calls for his resignation as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria said the following.

“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.”

Explaining his own side of the story yesterday, at an emergency meeting of the expanded 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.

“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.