The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has seized a N948million aircraft belonging to a former governor of Borno State, Ali Sheriff.
Mr. Sheriff is embroiled in leadership tussle of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Court of Appeal, where he is challenging the leadership of Ahmed Makarfi as the party’s chairman.
Credible sources at the EFCC told DAILY NIGERIAN that the aircraft was impounded on Monday at the Maiduguri International Airport.
According to the sources, Mr. Sheriff’s Dornier 328 aircraft, purportedly owned by Skybird Air, was previously seized by the anti-graft agency but it resumed operations without clearance.
The EFCC sources said the suspected “beneficial owner” (a euphemism for proxy) of the aircraft, Samuel Ayodele, was quizzed.
The source said Mr. Ayodele was “merely a front” in the deal as the aircraft was actually owned by Mr. Sherrif.
He said although the agency is still investigating the case, “a very useful finding” that linked the jet with the former governor was made.
