Jet With $9.3m Scandal: Catholic Bishops Attack Oritsejafor

The leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) is unhappy with Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over his connection with the $9.3 “arms deal” scandal.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos and President, Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, who spoke on BBC Hausa Service said, it was wrong for Oritsejafor’s private plane to be associated with the controversial arms deal in South Africa, The Nation reports.

He added that the clergyman was tarnishing the image of the CAN and dragging Christianity into the mud.

Kaigama expressed displeasure over Oritsejafor’s long standing relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan.

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He said: "It is not proper; the guilty must be punished. It is not acceptable for a Christian leader to be seen always with the President. We in the Catholic have always picked holes in Oritsejafor’s style of leadership in CAN and we even wanted to stop attending CAN meeting at the national level.”

The Archbishop therefore called on the authorities to properly investigate the matter and punish all those found guilty, while also urging the government to intensify efforts at curbing terrorism and restoring peace in the troubled parts of the country.

It would be recalled that in the first week of September, a private jet was caught in Johannesburg with $9.3m packed in several suitcases. When asked about the money, the passengers had said it was aimed at buying weapons for the Nigerian security.

It was later figured that the involved private jet belonged to the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who said he had earlier leased the aircraft and had nothing to do with the money.

Source: Legit.ng