Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦1bn Bombardier Jet to FG Over Unpaid Customs Duty

Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦1bn Bombardier Jet to FG Over Unpaid Customs Duty

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the forfeiture of a Bombardier BD‑700 Global 6000 private jet valued at about ₦1.04 billion to the Federal Government of Nigeria following the operator’s failure to pay customs duties since its importation in 2015.

Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2025, held that Orlean Invest Africa Limited and the aircraft had no valid legal justification to prevent the seizure and forfeiture. The court described the non-payment of customs duty as a violation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

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The aircraft, registered 9H‑GVG and bearing serial number 9470, was imported into Nigeria on October 26, 2015. The operator neither obtained a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) nor paid the required customs duties, prompting the court’s ruling. The judge emphasised that compliance with customs regulations is mandatory, regardless of an aircraft’s foreign registration.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had previously audited the jet and assessed unpaid duties totaling ₦1,044,493,295.54, highlighting ongoing concerns over private aircraft operating in Nigeria without meeting legal obligations. The court dismissed the defence that the jet’s foreign registration exempted it from local customs obligations, reinforcing that all aircraft operating in Nigeria must adhere to the law.

Following the ruling, the court ordered the Bombardier jet to be permanently seized, condemned, and forfeited to the Federal Government, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to customs compliance and revenue enforcement. The decision serves as a reminder to all private aircraft owners in Nigeria to adhere strictly to import and customs regulations.

Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦1bn Bombardier Jet to FG Over Unpaid Customs Duty