The anti-graft agency confiscated the plane, a Dornier 328, at the Maiduguri International Airport on Monday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Wednesday that it has impounded an aircraft worth N948m linked to former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.
The anti-graft agency confiscated the plane, a Dornier 328, at the Maiduguri International Airport on Monday.
The Nation Newspaper reports that two other planes were also impounded as part of ongoing investigations into looting by former politicians.
The Dornier 328 linked with Mr. Sheriff had earlier been impounded but continued operating without the EFCC's approval. EFCC operatives subsequently placed the aircraft on a watch list and searched for it for several months before seizing it on Monday.
An anonymous EFCC source disclosed to The Nation Newspaper that the anti-graft agency has interrogated the suspected beneficial owner - that is, one who has specific rights to use the property but does not legally own it - of the plane, Samuel Ayodele. Mr. Ayodele is the Managing Director of Skybird Air, a Nigerian airline.
The EFCC source told The Nation Newspaper, "Our detectives are working on clues that the aircraft belongs to a former governor of Borno State [Ali Modu Sheriff] but it is being used by a front. We are already looking into relevant records; we want to establish who actually owns it."
He explained that the agency is focusing on how and where the aircraft was bought, the mode of purchase, and the sources of the funds used to purchase it. While the plane appears to be connected to Mr. Sheriff, the EFCC source indicated that it has not yet confirmed that it belongs to the ex-Borno State governor.
"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," he explained.
On his part, Mr. Ayodele said that he purchased the plane legally when its former owner, IRS Airlines, closed shop.
"I bought the liability from the bank and took over the aircraft because IRS was not able to pay back the loan," Mr. Ayodele said. "It is a clean business. Since I graduated from school, I have been working in the aviation sector."
Regarding the two other confiscated jets, the EFCC said it could not disclose their owners, as its investigation into the matter is still ongoing.