FORMER Borno State governor Ali Modu Sheriff has just purchased a top-of-the-range Gulfstream G650 private jet at a whopping cost of N11.5bn ($72m) bringing the total number of aircrafts in his private fleet to four.

 

Alhaji Sheriff, 57, severed as governor between 2003 and 2011and has been widely blamed for allowing Boko Haram to take root in Nigeria as it was during his tenure that the terrorist sect grew in Borno State. Since leaving office, however, Governor Sheriff has taken refuge in Dubai amid fears that he may be targeted for elimination by Boko Haram.

 

His latest aircraft registered in Dubai with special specifications, is his first Gulfstream as his previous three jets are all old Dornier planes which he acquired from Aero Contractors at an estimated $3m. Governor Sheriff hires these Dorniers' out for charter, having recently obtained an Air Operator Certificate from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for his airline, Skybird.

 

Now a significant player in the Nigerian aviation charter market, Governor Sheriff  targets the top end of the market, hiring his jets out to members of the elite. However, his Gulfstream is not expected to be made available to Skybird as it was acquired for his personal use.


One operator described the aircraft as top-of-the-range, adding that it was unlikely that the former governor would deploy it for commercial service. One pilot and chief executive of an airline that provides charter services, said by registering the aircraft overseas, Governor Sheriff had denied Nigeria taxes and import duty on the aircraft.


He added that no Nigerian pilot or engineer would be employed to operate or work on the aircraft because with the foreign registration, only pilots and engineers licensed in the United Arab Emirates would be authorised to operate and service the aircraft. In addition, Governor Sheriff would also be paying overseas facility managers for the maintenance of the aircraft and would also pay charges to the company under which the aircraft is registered overseas.

 

“By registering the aircraft overseas, he has avoided tax and import duty, which he should pay to a country where he is a citizen and from which he made the money which he now spends on a foreign crew," the source added.

 

According to Forbes Magazine, the Gulfstream G650 only has an order book of 200 customers throughout the world. It is an ultra-high-speed, ultra-long-range business jet and the gold standard in business aviation.


A Gulfstream spokesperson said: “That means it will link Dubai with New York and London with Buenos Aires and with its powerful Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, the G650 will cover shorter distances at a speed of Mach 0.925. No traditional business jet will take you closer to the speed of sound.”

Source: Nigeria Watch