Senator Acquires Most Expensive Jet

Report has it that
former Borno State
Governor, Senator Ali
Modu Sherriff has toppled Bishop
David Oyedepo as the owner of the
largest fleet of private jets in Nigeria
with the acquisition of a new jet
valued at N11.5 billion.
According to Encomium:
Former Borno State governor, Senator
Ali Modu Sheriff has topped the chart of
top 10 private jet owners in Nigeria with
the acquisition of a brand new
Gulfstream G650 model worth about
$72 million (N11.5 billion). Encomium
Weekly's check revealed that it's the
most expensive private jet among
wealthy Nigerians who are privileged to
have these expensive toys. The latest
acquisition brings to four planes in his
fleet.
We gathered that the aircraft, which was
registered in Dubai with special
specifications, is the fourth in his fleet,
as the former governor already has three
old Dornier aircraft which he acquired
from Aero Contractors at an estimated
$3 million (N480 million).
According to our source, a Dornier
aircraft is used for charter services as
Sheriff recently obtained an Air Operator
Certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) for his airline,
Skybird. But a source said the
Gulfstream was acquired for Sheriff's
personal use.
An operator who is aware of the
purchase described the aircraft as top of
the range, adding that it was unlikely
that the former governor would deploy it
for commercial service.
A Nigerian pilot and chief executive
officer of an airline that provides charter
services, said by registering the aircraft
overseas, 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.
"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," he said.
The source also explained that 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
was registered overseas.
The main price of the aircraft is $65
million but other charges could have
raised it to $72 million, and according to
US-based Forbes magazine, the
Gulfstream G650 has an order book of
200 customers throughout the world.
Gulfstream described the aircraft as
ultra-high-speed, ultra-long-range
business jet and the gold standard in
business aviation.
With its powerful Rolls-Royce BR725
engines, the G650 will cover shorter
distances at a speed of Mach 0.925. The
G650 has a cruise speed of Mach 0.85 to
0.90, with maximum speed of Mach
0.925 and a range of up to 7,000nmi
(13,000 km). It can be equipped with a
full kitchen and bar and may be
equipped with a variety of entertainment
features including satellite phones and
wireless Internet.
The former governor, who is also the
chairman of opposition All Progressives
Congress, APC, Board of Trustees hides
in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, because Boko
Haram boys want his head. SAS is also
wanted by the Borno Civilian JTF who
recently burned his partner, Mala
Othman's house and got him arrested.