The owner of the two siezed Bell Helicopters by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has been exposed.
The choppers are owned by a rich South South state and they were bought by a currently top federal government official when he was the Governor of the state, but because the choppers arrived after he had left office and his party lost election in the state he decided to give it to the Nigeria Air Force, informed source has disclosed.
The two choppers arrived Nigeria in November more than two years after they were ordered at the cost of almost N10 billion.
Customs said the two Bell Helicopters were handed over to the Nigerian Air Force for failure by the unknown importers to produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in contravention of Section 36 ( 2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act .
Addressing newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Airport, Customs Area Controller, Frank Allanah, explained that the duty paid value of the two helicopters and other accessories was over N9,757,135,240.86 .
He said the helicopters were flown into Nigeria as a consignment with Airway Bill Number 17232444403 into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The choppers he said were detained at the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) shed pending fulfillment of all legal requirements for the importation .
He said upon examination, the consignment was found to contain two civil models 412 EP of serial numbers 36608 and 36606 Bell Helicopters respectively , in standard configuration and 23 packages said to contain their accessories weighing eleven thousand four hundred and seventy five kilogrammes ( 11,075 kg).
“The unknown importer could not produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser ( NSA) an act which contravenes section 36 sub section two Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004. Consequently seizure was effected on November 7, 2016 in line with section 46 of CEMA,” Customs said.
Allanah also disclosed that revenue totalingN55,505 ,499,945.35 was collected from January to December 2016 by a highly dedicated work force of the Customs Airport Command , surpassing the collection of 2015 which stood at N24,746,642,881.3 billion .
The increase in revenue collection, he said is N12.8 billion above the previous year despite decline in cargo through put from 76.9 million tonnes in 2015 to 64.63 million tonnes in 2016.
The command he said made several seizures of elephant tusks , foreign currencies and other times .
Giving further insight into the seized choppers , he said all legal issues were considered before the Customs Authorities carried out the exercise.
He said the chopper would be useful to the Nigerian Air Force in the fight against insurgency as the chopper were specially designed for such operations .
Speaking during the hand over the chopper , the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said the two Bell choppers and accessories will be taken to the Nigerian Air Force hangar at the Lagos Airport for full examination in collaboration with Customs officials .
He described the handover as a milestone because the configuration of the aircraft could be fitted for military combat operations.
