EVENTS
Nigerian Customs Grounds 60 Private Jets Of Bank Executives, Oil Moguls, Others Amid Crackdown On Unpaid Duties
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.
EVENTS
First Lady Remi Tinubu Bags Traditional Title In Osun
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, arrived in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday to be installed with the prominent chieftaincy title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodu’a.
The installation ceremony, which took place at the Palace Square of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also served as a celebration of the monarch’s 10th coronation anniversary.
She arrived at the palace of Ooni of Ife around 1 PM amid fanfare and heavy security, and was received by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his chiefs.

Dignitaries in attendance include the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, among others.
The ceremony is currently underway as more guests continue to arrive at the venue.
EVENTS
Harrison Gwamnishu’s Lawyer Gives An Account Of What The Activist Did With The Ransom Given To Him By Family Of Abducted Couple
Harrison Gwamnishu’s lawyer has given an account on what transpired between the activist and the N5.4 million deduction from the N20 million ransom family members of abducted Edo couple raised for their release.
There has been a controversy over the money Harrison delivered to the kidnappers. The family claimed they handed N20 million to Harrison to pay the ransom for the release of the abducted couple but upn handing the money to the kidnappers, the assailants discovered some monies were missing from the ransom and decided to hold on to the husband and then released the pregnant wife. Harrison has since denied any wrongdoing, insisting he has a modus operandi to handle abductors.
His lawyer has come out to give an account of what transpired between the ransom money and the activist. Read below
‘’I just got off the phone with Harrison Gwamnishu’s Lawyer. A lot has been said and done in real life investigation. Now, HARRISON’s CONFESSION
That his modus operandi is to get a prototype look alike cash where he inserts the chip for tracking as our cash is too light to carry the chip.
So before ransom is paid they remove a huge part of the money and replace it with the prototype money because the chip can only sit well on the fake money. The removed money will be given back to the family after a successful operation.
That he did this in the presence of the family member who was in the room with him. Now, the family member was called to answer and he claimed that Harrison was backing him and so he didn’t see what he was doing…
Hmmm na so Harrison back thick to occupy and cover all the space that you couldn’t see abi? Na God go judge you.
When he entered the bush at midnight to deliver the ransom the bandits were all wearing mask despite the fact that eveywhere was very dark they were pointing guns and touchlights at him and other victims family who also entered the bush with him to pay ransom for the release of their loved ones. There are other kidnapped victims who are in the custody of the bandits.
After he gave them the ransom only the Pregnant Woman was released to him and the man was begging for forgiveness from his younger brother according to him he was saying that his brother should forgive him. Remember that this couple were kindnapped from their home…. Could it be an insider job???
It was this same brother that first raise the alarm that the money was not complete. 1+1=
After the operation they went to the police station in Auchi to give report. Harrison when confronted about the money hesitated to tell them about his modus operandi, but when the family started threatening him, he told them and the police how he operates and he was asked to bring the money… He went to his hotel room took the money he kept aside and handed it over to the police in Auchi, Edo State that same day before leaving the town.
Harrison begged that none of this should enter social media until after the man had been released but shockingly, the family went on social media and the dragging started. They claimed he was on the run and his car was seized by the police.
Harrison then made a rebuttal to state that no money was taken (he didn’t go into details), his car was not seized by the police but rather he left his car there for safety as the people were already threatening him and he didn’t want them to trail him and injure him on his way home.
Harrison went on his own to SCID EDO COMMAND at Benin city for further investigation and the police there brought out the money and made him act like he was returning it so they can snap him and which they did
A Money he had returned in Auchi voluntarily suddenly became a tool of amusement for them.
After that, they prepared a search warrant claiming that they searched his hotel room at Auchi and recovered the money and were forcing him to sign the warrant and he refused. Now after 48 hours of the hand over they want him to sign a warrant that I was them that recovered the money. At that point his Lawyer vehemently refused him signing that warrant and he was locked up in the police cell.
The 14 days remained that is flying on social media by propagandist NEVER HAPPENED.
Harrison inserted a chip inside a prototype money that was mixed with the ransom paid for the release of the pregnant woman and according to him, the chip is still very active cos from his system he can still see where the kidnappers are and he is willing to assist the police track the bandits down and release the Man.
But instead of talking about how to go into the bush and face the bandits, they are all focused on Harrison. The #5.4m is with the police so why can’t the police or the family of the man go into the bush to rescue the man???
On my own i will advise Harrison to not enter that bush again. He should allow the police do their work.
I understand the bad blood between him and some powers that be and competitors in the game and thats why the whole thing is looking somehow and he is being judged by his past ugly shortcomings.
However, person no dey bad finish and so i will hang on to the one good Harrison has done in his life and until a court of competent jurisdiction finds him guilty… i will not throw him under the bus.
It’s very shameful that a private citizen is the one who interfaces with bandits while the police sits in their office. The family be playing with their brother’s life.
NB: This is a first hand account of what i gathered from Harrison’s lawyer this Beautiful Saturday morning. Thank You
Barr Awele Ideal wrote:
AweleChukwukaumemma
I am really disappointed in you calling Harrison bad names
EVENTS
Lady Nearly Plunged To Her Death From 10th Floor Window While Escaping From Lover’s Wife (Video)
A woman in China was captured on video clinging to the exterior of a high-rise building as she attempted to avoid being caught by her lover’s wife—a dramatic scene that has since gone viral online.
Residents in Guangdong province watched in disbelief as the woman dangled from a tenth floor balcony, appearing at moments to lose her grip.
Footage shows a shirtless man speaking to her through a window before retreating inside. Holding her phone, she begins lowering herself toward the floor below, using drainpipes and narrow ledges to steady herself.
The video shows her sliding down a water pipe and knocking urgently on a neighbour’s window. The occupant eventually opens up and pulls her to safety.
Local reports say a married man pushed his mistress out onto the balcony in a panic when his wife unexpectedly returned home, forcing her to attempt the perilous escape. The recording spread rapidly across Chinese social media, with many users saying the pair had been left “socially dead” by the public exposure and would face deep embarrassment.
Commenters also warned that climbing the exterior of a high rise posed extreme risks and could easily have ended in a fatal fall.
The incident comes shortly after a separate tragedy in the UK, where twenty nine year old Bartosz Urbaniak died after falling from a balcony at a holiday park event in Skegness.
Witnesses said he attempted to climb between balconies before losing his footing. A trainee nurse at the scene administered CPR, and he was flown to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, but he died two days later from severe head injuries.
Watch the video below…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR40X2njDrC/?igsh=MTRwZGd4N2Q3NDNmeQ==
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