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COURT ORDER: Italian Football Club’s Ex-Owner Loses ₦1BN Luxury Jet to Nigerian Government
A Nigerian court has dropped the hammer on a billionaire-linked luxury jet — and the fallout is massive.
In a landmark ruling that’s sending shockwaves through elite aviation and football circles, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of a ₦1 billion Bombardier Global 6000 private jet linked to the former owner of Italian football club Spezia.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the aircraft, operated by Orlean Invest Africa Limited, must be handed over to the Federal Government after it was revealed that no customs duty had been paid since the jet entered Nigeria in 2015 — nearly a decade ago.
“No Excuse, No Evidence” — Judge Slams Jet Owners
Delivering judgment in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2025, the court found that the jet’s operators failed to justify why the aircraft should not be seized, describing their conduct as a deliberate attempt to cheat Nigeria of lawful revenue.
The aircraft — bearing registration 9H-GVG — was imported as a private, non-commercial jet but never paid customs duty nor obtained a Temporary Import Permit, in clear violation of Nigerian law.
According to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the unpaid duty alone amounts to a staggering ₦1,044,493,295.54.
Owners Tried to Fight Back — But It Failed
In their defence, the jet’s handlers argued that the aircraft was foreign-registered in Malta, operated under international charter, and had received aviation clearances from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
But the judge wasn’t convinced.
Justice Omotosho ruled that Nigerian customs laws still applied and cited an NCAA circular that explicitly requires customs clearance and duty payment for all aircraft imported into Nigeria — rules the jet owners ignored.
“No proof of payment, no permit, no mercy,” the ruling made clear.
How the Jet Was Finally Caught
The case began after a 2024 nationwide audit by the NCS uncovered widespread violations among private aircraft operators.
Following warnings and investigations, the court ordered the jet’s interim seizure in June 2025. Now, the final verdict has sealed its fate — the aircraft now belongs to Nigeria.
‘Groundbreaking Judgment’ — Customs Lawyer Reacts
Reacting to the ruling, senior customs lawyer Okon Efut, SAN, described the decision as historic, praising the judiciary for standing firm and calling it the first judgment of its kind in Nigeria’s aviation and customs history.
