Billionaire businessman, Sayuu Dantata is about to lose three of his prized possession over his inability to pay import duty on them. The possessio
Billionaire businessman, Sayuu Dantata is about to lose three of his prized possession over his inability to pay import duty on them.
The possession, three aircraft – a 2011 Beechcraft King Air 350i with serial number FL-750; a 2013 Gulfstream G550 with serial number 5455 and a 2018 Robinson R66 helicopter – are being withheld by Nigerian Customs Service over N2.31 billion unpaid import duty.
To this end, the Nigeria Customs is seeking a final order for the seizure, condemnation and forfeiture of the aircraft under sections 245 and 246 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. The agency wants ownership and possession of the aircraft on behalf of the federal government, with authority to sell or otherwise dispose of them. According to the court filing, the NCS arrived at the N2,312,946,260 duty claim using a five percent duty rate. On that basis, the agency’s calculation puts the combined value of the three aircraft at about N46.3 billion.
The NCS alleged that the aircraft were brought into Nigeria without the required declaration, permit, approval or payment of import duty. The service also alleged that the respondents misrepresented or failed to declare the actual purpose and status of the aircraft when they were brought into the country. The NCS said the forfeiture order was necessary to prevent the aircraft from being taken out of Nigeria and thereby frustrate enforcement.
Dantata who is the founder of MRS Holdings, a downstream petroleum group is also a half-brother of Aliko Dangote and a member of the Dantata business family in Kano. The matter has been adjourned until October 22, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
