Nigerians are brewing with anger over weekend’s confession by Special Assistant to the former Aviation Minister, Ms. Chioma Anasoh that she was actually caught trying to leave Nigeria via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with “$142,000.”

Cross sections of Nigerians home and abroad sent text messages, phone calls and emails ambivalent of the confession of Ms. Anasoh that she was caught with the said huge amount of money and was still released with apologies by the Nigerian customs official. A Nigerian said “it is a shameful brazing but show of bottom power.”

Pointblanknews.com gathered additional information yesterday that the customs officials did not only apologize to Ms. Ansoh and a possible thanks for breaking the law, they also went ahead to destroy records of the offense and arrest. Although Ms. Ansoh sent a rebuttal to one of Nigeria’s weekend titles trying to put a positive spin and arrogantly attempted to tutor Nigerian Journalists how to do their job, her boss Chief Femi Fani-Kayode intensified efforts at buying a section of the Nigerian media during the week.

People acting on his behalf were said to have been sending text messages to Journalists to provide their checking account information so that he could “wire” “honorarium” to them. Journalists too are not easily fooled. Fani-Kayode was a regular contributor and commentator in the Nigerian media before he hit the limelight. He also carefully packaged himself as a kind-hearted person and when he came into the glory and pump of power he became a changed arrogant character. So reporters do not want to be used to launder his image. They are not available for him as a matter of cash and carry.

Obviously the troika of Fani-Kayode, Anasoh and Folake St. Mathew Daniel know they have violated Nigerian existing laws on corruption, illegal currency trafficking and abuse of office. They are simply trying to put a positive spin on a criminal act.

Ms. Anasoh has not told the whole truth on how much was found on her and how Ms. St. Mathew Daniel beat security wrap and how much she eventually took to London. She also has plenty of explanation to do on the disparity between her net income and the hundred of thousands of dollars found on her and by the way why did a public official of the caliber of Chief Fani-Kayode have to see the two women off right into the plane which by any international standard is a breach of aviation guideline. If every Nigerian were allowed that kind of privilege then it is an open guess why planes often blow-up mid air and why Nigerians are often found with contraband. Something that has become a big dent for every Nigerian in the eyes of the international community.

Ms. Anasoh had written a warped rejoinder “I wish to state categorically and clearly that there is no iota of truth in the suggestion that I or Mrs. Folake St. Mathew Daniel who I was traveling with was nabbed by operatives of EFCC (Custom) with $142,000 ($240,000) in our possession. It is also untrue that we were asked to report to EFCC later.”

She continued “On the morning of June 27, 2007 I went to the airport to travel to United Kingdom. I went through the normal processes at the airport but unfortunately because I was not given a currency declaration form to fill, I forgot to do so. Once I boarded the plane, a message was sent to me that because I did not fill the currency declaration form that I should come down and do so. I gladly (indeed?) complied with this but unfortunately for me while I was in the process of filling the form in the company of a custom officer, they told me that the plane could not wait for me and it had to leave. Consequently, I missed my flight.”

According to Anasoh, “after filling the form, the custom officer duly certified it and the custom officer can confirm the fact that the amount of money (How much?) with me was firmly within the lawful limit. Having been certified that the forms were dully filled and that I have done nothing illegal or questionable, (Who told her?) the custom officer apologized to me for having to miss my flight and he advised me to take the flight the following morning which I did.”

Most Nigerians calling pointblanknews.com raise posers as to how many trips people like Ms. Ansoh have made for powerful Nigerian individuals. They want to know if it is within stipulated law for the Nigerian congress to hold public hearing on this kind of unscrupulous trips which often take away liquid cash from circulation within the Nigerian system. If done, it is believed, by some of the people who called, that Nigerian democracy could further be strengthened and not threatened. It is also believed that the laws as they are in Nigeria could be enforced without sparing anybody.