Nigerian Court Orders Forfeiture of Bombardier Jet Over Customs Duties Violation

The Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, issued a final judgment on January 22, ordering the forfeiture of a Bombardier BD 700 Global 6000 aircraft registered as 9H-GVG, belonging to Orleans Invest Africa Limited. The court's decision came after the Nigerian Customs Service discovered that the private aircraft operator had violated customs laws by failing to pay appropriate duties and obtain necessary permits.

Orleans Invest Africa Limited was found liable for over $1 billion in customs duties. The court ruled that the company's failure to provide proof of payment of customs duties deprived the Nigerian government of revenue.

The court emphasized that the company's actions constituted a serious breach of the law and an attempt to evade government revenue. As a result, the court ordered the final seizure and forfeiture of the Bombardier jet.

The judgment highlighted the importance of compliance with customs regulations and the consequences of non-compliance in Nigeria's legal system.