Arms deal south africa return seized 15m nigeria soon defence secretary

It appears you're referring to a recent development in the arms deal scandal involving South Africa and Nigeria.

To recap, in 2019, South Africa's Special Investigating Unit (SIU) seized assets worth around R15 million (approximately $1 million) from a Nigerian businessman, Abiodun Agbele, who was allegedly involved in the arms deal scandal. The assets were seized as part of an investigation into corruption and money laundering related to the deal.

Now, it seems that Nigeria is seeking the return of the seized assets, with the country's Defence Secretary, Bashir Salihi Magashi, recently expressing interest in retrieving the assets. According to reports, Magashi has written to South Africa's Defence Secretary, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, requesting the return of the seized assets, citing Nigeria's sovereignty and the need to protect its citizens' rights.

The arms deal scandal in question dates back to the 1990s, when South Africa's arms procurement agency, Armscor, allegedly paid bribes to secure contracts with foreign companies, including Nigerian firms. The scandal has led to numerous investigations, arrests, and convictions over the years.

It will be interesting to see how this latest development unfolds, particularly in light of the complex diplomatic and legal issues involved.