Former Borno State governor Ali Modu Sheriff has just purchased a
top-of-the-range Gulfstream G650 private jet at a who
pping cost of
N11.5bn ($72m) bringing the total number of aircraft in his private
fleet to four.
Alhaji Sheriff, 57, severed as governor between 2003 and 2011 and 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.
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.
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.
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