Customs Archives - SocietyGazette.com

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.

Smuggling is the Mother of all Crime that Customs is Dealing with Technologically – Attah

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Colonel Hameed Ali, Rtd, is using advanced technologies to outsmart smugglers’ techniques in concealing contraband products across the borders into Nigeria.

This was the disclosure of Comptroller Joseph Attah, Customs spokesman, who played host to a team of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, led by its President, Comrade Femi Oyewale in Abuja on Thursday, January 3.
Speaking with NAOSRE team, Attah emphasized that smuggling is a national menace which the Customs Service, under the leadership of Alli, is determined to erase from the country’s list of crimes.

Attah described smuggling as the mother of all crimes, explaining that “Smugglers are the agents responsible for the proliferation of illegal arms in the country which fuels banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.

“Also, smugglers are responsible for the preponderance of fake consumables including fake drugs in the country which partly renders health care services ineffective.

“Therefore, you can understand the reason we classify smuggling as the mother of all crimes. In carrying out their nefarious activities, they have gone sophisticated in concealing contraband goods in great measures and in several ways.“To outsmart these anti peoples’ agents and nip their operations in the bud, the Comptroller General, last year, acquired three scanners which have been deployed for use in strategic ports across Nigeria.
“We are going to have more scanners. There is synergy with other sister security agencies for effective border patrol. Customs processes are now automated because automation is the way to go in meeting revenue target and degrading smugglers,” he stated.

In addition, Attah said the Comptroller General is also concerned about the safety of its personnel in the course of duty and has procured several rugged, all-terrain operational vehicles fitted with gun turrets as well as machine guns to protect officers against smugglers onslaught.

He therefore, called on citizens to lend necessary supports by volunteering timely information to the Customs Service for effective arrest of criminals who import fake products and illegal arms.

Attah noted that Customs initiatives, over the years, would not have been successful but for media supports. He particularly applauded NAOSRE, saying “I have been following your activities and your passion for a secured Nigeria. You are a good example of how to support security agencies to achieve safer Nigeria. We are happy with NAOSRE because you share our vision for a secured Nigeria. We hope you will continue to sensitize Nigerians about the danger of smuggling,” he advised.

Earlier, in his remarks, NAOSRE President, Comrade Oyewale explained the rationale behind the visit, saying it was to thank the Comptroller General and his officers for the supports extended to the association in the past years. He promised that NAOSRE, under his leadership, will continue to render impactful media coverage to security agencies and externalize their great efforts to achieve a safer Nigeria.

FAAN Condemns Customs Comptroller For Breaching Airport Security

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has condemned officers of the Nigeria Customs Service for breaching the security system at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The authority made this known in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Henrietta Yakubu, adding that such security breaches were becoming recurrent and must cease.

FAAN also alleged that the Customs Area Comptroller for Hajj and Cargo Terminal and his officers assaulted Aviation Security officers on duty and forcefully took over Gate 3 of the airport.

The statement read in part, “At about 17.45hrs on Thursday, January 20, 2022, while the AVSEC officers on day duty at Gate 3 were profiling a NAHCO vehicle that wanted to access the Security Restricted Area via Gate 3, the Customs Area Comptroller for Hajj and Cargo Terminal suddenly emerged and pulled off behind the NAHCO vehicle that was being attended to.

“And CSC Agunbiade, a Customs officer on the area comptroller’s entourage later shoved aside the AVSEC officer at the gate, forcefully took over the gate and opened the gate for the comptroller and his escorts to forcefully access the Security Restricted Area via the gate.”

It added, “While accessing the gate, the armed escorts to the comptroller threatened to beat up the AVSEC officers at the gate if they dare resist their assault and breach of security.

“This blatant abuse of the privilege of bearing firearms by the NCS has become a recurrent threat to the safety and security of our staff and our operations.”

Reacting to the development, the NCS through its spokesperson, Joseph Attah, queried FAAN’s right in declaring a gate restricted from Custom personnel in a cargo airport.

He said, “I have read the statement and it clearly shows that the officials are ignorant of the rules. You can’t restrict a gate to Customs in a cargo airport. What is your intention for doing that, that intention is suspicious?

“Are you creating a route for those who want to smuggle cargo out of the country? And will you also do the job of Customs at that gate?

“And instead of engaging each other to understand each other’s role, you are issuing a statement and making it public and saying we should respect your mandate.

“So I think the best thing is for the senior officials to engage each other and understand their roles instead of demonstrating this false sense of superiority.”