Buhari, president- elect made positive overtures to Jacob Zuma of South Africa before the elections and relations between the two countries are likely to improve. “South Africa is considering
returning the Nigerian money that it confiscated last year, or clearing the way to sell arms to the West African country” The Mail & Guardian reported. The newspaper also has learned through
diplomatic sources that South Africa has begun talks to work out a process
to return the money in an effort to start off on a clean slate with the recently elected
government of the
Nigerian
president-elect,
Muhammadu
Buhari. South African law enforcement
agencies seized $15 million in two batches: $5.7- million that had been wired to Standard Bank and
$9.3-million in cash, which was confiscated. It was brought into the country through Lanseria airport in Johannesburg in three suitcases by a delegation said to represent the Nigerian
government. In both cases, the money was suspected to be for illegal use. Now South Africa wants to use the money to extend an olive branch to Buhari’s
government and mend relations between the two countries, which became strained during the tenure of outgoing president
Goodluck
Jonathan. “The positive thing about [Buhari] is that one of the people who supported him is Atiku Abubakar. That makes him our man and he will automatically
work well with [President Jacob] Zuma,” a government
source said
