The Nigeria Customs Service has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the final forfeiture of three aircraft linked to businessman Sayyu Dantata, over an alleged ₦2.312 billion customs-duty shortfall.
The application names Dantata, Bestaf Services Ltd and Metro Capital Ltd as respondents and targets a Beechcraft King Air 350i, Gulfstream G550 and Robinson R66 helicopter.
Customs alleges that the aircraft were brought into Nigeria without the required declarations, permits, approvals or payment of applicable import duties for permanently based private aircraft.
According to the court papers cited in the report, Customs says the three aircraft are subject to a five per cent import-duty rate and that the alleged unpaid duty and associated charges amount to ₦2,312,946,260.
Based on the five per cent figure pleaded by Customs, the implied combined value of the aircraft is approximately ₦46.26 billion. Separately, market comparisons cited in the report suggest that the actual market value of the fleet could be substantially higher, potentially exceeding ₦100 billion, depending on the aircraft’s age, condition, equipment and maintenance history.
Three Aircraft Targeted
The aircraft identified in the application are:
– Beechcraft King Air 350i — Registration N4045A, Serial No. FL-750
– Gulfstream G550 — Registration N169SD, Serial No. 5455
– Robinson R66 helicopter — Registration N69D
Customs alleges that the aircraft were imported on dates stated in its court filing without the required declaration and payment of duty.
The Service said its private-aircraft verification exercise uncovered the alleged revenue shortfall and maintained that the conduct could attract seizure and forfeiture under relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Customs Wants Ownership Transferred
The application, dated June 2026, seeks more than temporary detention of the aircraft.
Customs is asking the Federal High Court to issue orders for the final seizure, condemnation and forfeiture of the three aircraft and vest ownership, control and possession in the Nigeria Customs Service on behalf of the Federal Government.
It also wants authority to dispose of, manage or otherwise deal with the aircraft in accordance with the law.
The Service said the requested orders were necessary to prevent the aircraft from being removed from Nigeria and to safeguard the enforcement process.
The affidavit supporting the application was reportedly sworn to by Simi Adamson, a member of the Nigeria Customs Service Legal Department.
Dantata Connection
Sayyu Dantata is the founder and chairman of MRS Holdings and a member of the prominent Kano-based Dantata business family. He is widely known as the half-brother of businessman Aliko Dangote.
The case, however, remains an allegation by the Nigeria Customs Service.
There has been no final judicial determination establishing that Dantata or the other respondents evaded customs duty, and the Federal High Court had yet to rule on the forfeiture application in the documents reviewed.
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