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Nigerian Customs Grounds 60 Private Jets Of Bank Executives, Oil Moguls, Others Amid Crackdown On Unpaid Duties

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The clampdown also led to the sealing of private jet hangars at Lagos and Abuja airports.

The Nigerian Government has grounded at least 60 private jets across major Nigerian airports as part of a crackdown on owners who have allegedly failed to pay import duties running into several billions of naira.

According to The PUNCH, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which spearheaded the operation, confirmed that several luxury aircraft—including Bombardier Global 6000, 6500, and 7500 series—were affected.

The clampdown also led to the sealing of private jet hangars at Lagos and Abuja airports.

The reports stated that the aviation and customs sectors disclosed on Wednesday that the move followed a verification exercise launched to identify private jet owners who had defaulted.

 

The initiative, originally slated to commence on October 14, 2024, was delayed after the NCS extended the deadline to November 14, 2024.

Among the affected are high-profile individuals, including bank executives, oil industry magnates, and executives of multinational companies.

Many of them are reportedly lobbying the Presidency in a bid to secure the release of their grounded aircraft.

However, despite the expiration of the initial deadline on November 14, 2024, the NCS remained silent about its planned enforcement against private jet owners who had failed to pay outstanding customs duties.

When questioned about the agency’s inaction at the time, the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that multiple court cases had delayed enforcement.

However, fresh findings on Wednesday revealed that the NCS had quietly begun grounding both privately and corporately owned jets.

 

The clampdown reportedly started on Monday without any new public notice, according to affected stakeholders.

Sources disclosed to The PUNCH that NCS officials sealed several aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. This marks a major enforcement step by the agency, seven months after it issued final warnings to defaulters.

When contacted, Maiwada confirmed the development, stating that the NCS had commenced enforcement and would continue until all outstanding payments were made.

“Yes, enforcement has started. The aircraft are grounded for the non-payment of customs duty, and as soon as they come over to regularise their payment and give what is due to Nigerians, they will get it back,” he said.

He added, “We issued a statement when we started the verification, and we extended the period and even ‘over extended the period’, now that we are acting, everyone already knows our reason.

“We just have to enforce, we have to collect revenue for Nigerians so that it will be used for Nigerians.”

Maiwada emphasised that several appeals were made to the defaulting aircraft owners to regularise their documentation or pay applicable duties, but many failed to comply.

“Now that they’re grounded, they will have to respond. We believe they will comply,” he said.

Meanwhile, credible sources within the Customs Service disclosed that some jet owners have started lobbying for the release of their aircraft, with some even reaching out to the Presidency.

One major commercial bank has reportedly pledged to settle its outstanding duties by next Tuesday, while another is negotiating indirectly through its representatives.

An energy company operating three jets has also made commitments to resolve its dues within the week.

Amidst the pressure, there are reports that the NCS is considering temporary relief for some owners. A document dated June 4, 2025, allegedly signed by Deputy Comptroller-General C.K. Niagwan on behalf of the Comptroller-General, indicates that some grounded jets are being “temporarily unsealed.”

According to the document, the temporary measure is aimed at allowing operators to submit relevant documentation and engage with the agency to agree on modalities for settling outstanding duties and taxes.

It stressed that the action does not amount to a waiver of statutory obligations but is intended solely to facilitate compliance. Only a select number of aircraft are affected by this measure.

Reacting to the development, Frank Oruye, a former deputy director of engineering at the now-defunct Nigeria Airways, urged both private jet operators and the Customs Service to adopt global best practices in their operations.

He appealed to aircraft owners to pay what is due to the government and advised the Customs to act professionally in their dealings.

Oruye also recounted long-standing disputes between the defunct Nigeria Airways and the NCS over aircraft components, specifically high-cost items known as Rotables.

Similarly, retired Group Captain John Ojikutu raised security concerns, revealing that many of the grounded jets are foreign-registered—a situation he described as a threat to national security.

 

He blamed both the Customs and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for failing to control the influx and operation of undocumented aircraft.

“When I was at the airport, I seized Abiola’s aircraft twice! Why are people behaving this way nowadays? In Demuren’s days, such wouldn’t have happened,” he recalled.

 

“All these things happening are risky, not even now that we don’t know the people in charge of the insurgency. To now fly foreign aircraft without clearance is a threat to national security.  Both customs and the NCAA should be blamed for allowing them to fly such aircraft in the country,” he said.

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151 SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS FACE FORCE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OVER DISCIPLINARY MATTERS

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‎PRESS RELEASE
‎151 SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS FACE FORCE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OVER DISCIPLINARY MATTERS

‎In a decisive step towards reinforcing internal accountability and professional standards, one hundred and fifty-one (151) senior police officers are currently facing the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) over various pending disciplinary matters. The exercise commenced today Monday, 14th July till Friday, 25th July 2025, at the IGP Smart Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

‎The Force Disciplinary Committee is an essential internal structure responsible for reviewing and adjudicating cases of alleged breaches of professional conduct, misconduct, and ethical violations involving senior officers of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and above. The affected officers, drawn from various commands and formations across the country, are expected to undergo a thorough and transparent review process in line with extant police regulations and disciplinary procedures for final recommendation to the Police Service Commission.

‎The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to discipline and ethical conduct within the Force. He emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force will not condone any form of indiscipline or misconduct.

‎The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to promoting integrity, professionalism, and public trust. The disciplinary process reflects the Force’s keenness to maintaining an accountable and service-driven institution, where standards are upheld and the rule of law is respected from within.

‎ACP
‎FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
‎FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
‎ABUJA.

‎16TH JULY, 2025.

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Customs FOU ‘A’ Vows Tougher Action Against Illicit Financial Flows …Hands Over ₦31m Seized Foreign Currency to EFCC

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, has reaffirmed its commitment to curbing illicit financial flows, following the seizure of undeclared foreign currency valued at ₦30.86 million near the Seme border.

The seized funds were formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, 16 July 2025.

Speaking during the handover, the Unit head, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, explained that the interception occurred on Sunday, 13 July 2025, when officers on routine patrol along the Babapupa bush path flagged down a suspicious Nissan Almera.

According to him, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the nearby bush, evading arrest. “Upon inspection, officers discovered undeclared foreign currency, $20,000 in U.S. dollars and 110,000 in West African CFA francs carefully stashed in the vehicle.”

“The seized currency contravenes Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, which mandates the declaration of any amount exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent at Nigeria’s borders”, he noted.

Comptroller Shuaibu highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling transnational crimes while reiterating the Unit’s commitment to protecting the Nigerian economy from economic sabotage. “We will remain vigilant and ensure our borders are not used as conduits for criminal activities.”

After receiving the seized currency, the Head of Investigation, Lagos Directorate of the EFCC, Shehu Muhammed-Allah, commended the Service for its professionalism and timely intervention.

“This handover reinforces the synergy between both agencies. It is a strong message to criminals that the law is watching, and there will be consequences”, he warned.

He affirmed that the EFCC will investigate to trace the ownership of the abandoned vehicle and will pursue legal proceedings in accordance with the law.

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Why I worked against Atiku in 2023 – Ortom

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A former governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, has explained why he worked against the candidature of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in 2023.

Ortom said he worked against Atiku at the risk of his senatorial ambition.

He disclosed this on Thursday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme.

The former Governor stated that be believed for equity, fairness and justice, the PDP should have allowed presidency to go the south.

He said: “And when members of the PDP overwhelmingly accepted that the presidency should be in the north, we say no, it was wrong, because everyone knows here for equity, fairness and justice, we should allow presidency in the North for eight years, and the south should go for eight years.

“I’ve already made my position known. I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I don’t want to pretend. And I made it very clear that was why I worked against the PDP in 2023 election. And I did say that even if I lose my senatorial election, After some eight years as governor, it doesn’t matter. But let it be known that there are people who believe in justice, equity and fairness.”

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