[Mhiz Rebecca]

Two civil model Bell Helicopters transported into the
country by yet to be identified person/company and
seized at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on
November 7, 2016, have been forfeited to the Nigerian
Customs Service.
Customs Area Controller, Mr. Frank Allanah, who made
the disclosure on Friday, put the import duty value of
the helicopters and their accessories – 23 packages
weighing 11,475 kg – at N9,757,135,240.86k.
He
said
the
choppers have been handed over to the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) to assist in fight against the Boko Haram
insurgency in the Northeast.
The service explained that the unknown importer failed
to produce end user certificate from the office of the
National Security Adviser (NSA) in contravention of
Section 36 (2) of the Customs and Excise Management
Act.
Allanah added that the helicopters were flown in as a
consignment with Airway Bill Number 17232444403
through the airport in Lagos.
He recalled that oficials who examined the consignment
found two civil models 412 EP of serial numbers 36608
and 36606 Bell Helicopters respectively, in standard
configuration.
The
choppers were impounded and detained at the Skyways
Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) pending
fulfillment of all legal requirements for the importation
which the owners never failed to produce.