EFCC Seizes Private Jet Allegedly Owned By Ali Modu Sheriff

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has impounded an aircraft allegedly belonging to embattled PDP factional chairman and former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

The aircraft was impounded at the Maiduguri International Airport on Monday, 16 January.

The anti-graft agencies also placed two other private jets under surveillance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to report, the Dornier aircraft 328 linked with the former governor had been earlier impounded, but it resumed operations without EFCC’s clearance.

The plane marked N805PG and 5NBMH allegedly belongs to Skybird Air, which is been managed by one Mr. Samuel Ayodele.

“Our detectives are working on clues that the aircraft belongs to a former governor of Borno State but it is being used by a front. We are already looking into relevant records; we want to establish who actually owns it.

“We are tracking how and when the aircraft was bought, where it was purchased, the mode of payment and the sources of funds. This is definitely an international transaction; it is easier to trace the inflows and outflows from any account.

“There are also some petitions containing allegations against the former governor concerning the aircraft and some public funds. If the aircraft cannot be identified with the ex-governor, the EFCC will release it to the beneficial owner.”

The source quoted Ayodele as saying: “I bought the liability from the bank and took over the aircraft because IRS was not able to pay back the loan.

“It is a clean business. Since I graduated from school, I have been working in the aviation sector.”