Watchdog wants Nigeria probed for $9.3m sent to SA

Johannesburg - A Nigerian watchdog group is demanding an international investigation into the Nigerian government for flying $9.3m in cash to South Africa to buy weapons.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project petitioned the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force "to investigate admission by the government of Nigeria that it hired a private jet to convey $9.3m in cash to procure arms from South Africa."

South African customs officials last week seized the money in $100 bills in three suitcases that arrived on a private jet from Nigeria at Johannesburg's Lanseria airport.

Police said they questioned two Nigerians and an Israeli.

The project said Friday that Nigeria has flouted standards to deter illicit flows of money set by the Financial Action Task Force, of which it is a member.