By Ghazali Ibrahim
Barely days after the Nigeria Customs Service moved to seize three aircraft linked to businessman Sayyu Dantata, another prominent Nigerian business family has come under scrutiny over private jets and alleged customs-duty violations.
This time, the aircraft are linked to Folorunso Alakija’s FAMFA Oil Limited, with Customs reportedly demanding ₦8.85 billion in import duty over one of the company’s jets.
The dispute involves three Bombardier aircraft, a Global 6000 XRS, registration VP-CFO; Global 6000, registration VP-CEO; and Global 7500, registration VP-CTO.
An investigation published by Secrets Reporters said the three jets are worth close to $200 million based on current list prices.
The biggest financial issue concerns the Bombardier Global 7500, which reportedly arrived in Nigeria on December 6, 2023.
According to the investigation, Customs found no record of a Temporary Importation Permit or statutory customs payment for the aircraft and assessed ₦8,849,869,111 in import duty.
The other two aircraft also came under scrutiny over their importation records.
The Global 6000, VP-CEO, reportedly arrived in Nigeria in 2012 and underwent customs inspection in September that year.
The investigation alleged that the aircraft remained in Nigeria beyond the maximum period allowed under the temporary importation arrangement without being formally converted to permanent importation or exported.
For the Global 6000 XRS, VP-CFO, the investigation alleged that the aircraft underwent customs inspection in July 2015, while its Temporary Importation Permit was obtained in February 2016.
The allegations emerged from Customs’ wider verification exercise targeting privately owned aircraft operating in Nigeria.
The exercise began in 2021 and was followed by another verification in 2024, during which authorities reportedly compared aircraft ownership records, Temporary Importation Permits and aviation clearance documents.
The development comes shortly after Customs asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the forfeiture of three aircraft linked to Sayyu Dantata, the half-brother of Aliko Dangote, over an alleged ₦2.312 billion customs-duty shortfall.
Unlike the Dantata case, where Customs is specifically seeking forfeiture of the aircraft, reports on the FAMFA matter currently centre on the ₦8.85 billion duty assessment and the alleged irregularities surrounding the aircraft’s importation and continued stay in Nigeria.
The two cases nevertheless point to the same wider Customs exercise involving privately owned aircraft and their compliance with Nigeria’s import regime.
FAMFA Oil has not publicly responded to the specific allegations cited in the investigation, while the claims have not been finally determined by a court.
