A court of appeal in Canada has thrown out an appeal by a former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Dauzia Etete, to recover his private jet which the federal government got impounded in that country.
Justice Robert Mainville during a virtual court hearing declared that Etete could not have the Bombardier Global 6000 jet back because he failed to challenge the allegations levelled at him by the Nigerian government.
He said the ex-minister lacked a reasonable chance to secure an appeal on the forfeiture of the aircraft.
The federal government in an affidavit by its lawyer, Babatunde Olabode Johnson, alleged that Etete used front men to channel funds used in the purchase of the aircraft.
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Plaintiffs also claimed that recovery of the aircraft might be “jeopardized without the seizure”.
In an earlier ruling last month, Justice Martin Castonguay of the Superior Court, District of Montreal, dismissed the former minister’s appeal on the forfeiture of the jet.
Nigeria alleges that Etete acquired the private jet through illicit gains from the Malabu oil deal.
It also accuses him of making use of a company, Tibit Limited, as front in the ownership and operation of the aircraft.
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