Photo Credit:Sahara Reporters Media

A former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu
Sheriff, widely accused of sponsoring Boko
Haram insurgents in Nigeria, may be
lobbying for the release of the Chad-bound cargo
aircraft confiscated in Kano for transporting large
consignment of military hardware, PREMIUM
TIMES can report today.
Sources at the Aminu Kano International Airport,
where the plane is currently detained, said Mr.
Sheriff visited the Kano airport at about 10 p.m.
on Saturday and held discussions with some
officials on the possibility of releasing the aircraft.
Our sources said on arriving the airport, officials
allowed the former governor a secret tour of the
aircraft, during which he inspected its
consignments.
“I was there and I saw him and two airport
security officials accompanying him to inspect the
plane. I saw the black helicopters and two bullet
proof SUVs,” one of our sources said. “I also
heard him (Mr. Sheriff) say verbal directive had
been given from Abuja for the release of the plane
but that authorities of the airport were insisting on
written directive.”
Mr. Sheriff could not be reached to comment for
this story. His known mobile telephone number
was switched off for several hours that PREMIUM
TIMES called Saturday. He is also yet to reply a
text message sent to him.
The Manager of the Kano Airport, a Mr. Adamu,
told PREMIUM TIMES he is in Abuja and was
therefore unaware of Mr. Sheriff’s tour of the
detained aircraft.
The former Borno governor is a close ally of both
the Nigerian president, and the government of
Chad – the plane’s final destination.
A 2010 Intelligence report by a Nigerian security
agency suggested that Mr. Sheriff was personally
involved in the recruitment, training and dispatch
of Boko Haram fighters, under the full cover of
Idris Deby, the Chadian president.
Chad is Nigeria’s neighbour. Laying on Nigeria’s
northeast shoulder, and sharing long distances of
unregulated borders, it is considered a window to
safety for Boko Haram fighters.
An Australian negotiator engaged by the Nigerian
government to bring Boko Haram insurgents to
the negotiation table, Stephen Davies, also spoke
of how the insurgents named Mr. Sheriff as one of
their sponsors during his conversations with the
terrorists.
Airport officials told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Sheriff’s
verbal pressures to let the plane go was turned
down. He was asked to get written permission
from “ogas at the top” – authority high up in
Abuja – our sources said.
After inspecting the plane and holding discussions
with local officials, Mr. Sheriff reportedly left for
Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, in a private jet at
about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
Security operatives at the Kano Airport had seized
the plane when it landed at the facility at about
2a.m. Saturday as a result of technical
problems. Crew members of the airplane were
immediately detained while investigations
continued, officials said.
“Security has since been beefed up at the airport
in order to ensure proper investigation,” the
officials added. The General Manager,
Communications, Federal Airport Authority of
Nigeria, FAAN, Yakubu Datti, confirmed the seizure
of the plane.
He said the pilot sought permission to land at the
airport after the plane developed problems. “The
plane had a technical problem and the pilot
sought (for) permission to land at the airport’’, he
said.
Mr. Datti said security agencies had since
commenced investigation into the matter. Security
sources told PREMIUM TIMES the plane was
travelling to N’djamena, the capital of Chad. PR
Nigeria, an agency known for distributing press
statements on behalf of the Nigerian military, later
circulated a statement saying the aircraft
contained “a chopper tucked in it”.
“… Intense investigation is ongoing including
using diplomatic means to unravel the mission of
the aircraft, its origin and destination,” the
statement said. This is the third time since 2009
that planes loaded with arms would be arrested in
Kano, our correspondent says. The detained
planes were later released after investigations.
The destination of the latest aircraft has however
raised concerns amid increasing worries in
Nigeria over Chad’s alleged role in the Boko
Haram insurgency plaguing Nigeria’s
northeast. The plane and its consignment was
initially thought to originate from Russia but the
Russian Embassy in Abuja issued a statement
denying ownership of the AH-124-100 heavy
military transport aircraft.
Air cargo experts describe it as one of the biggest
serial and strategic heavy lifters in the world. It is
intended for the transportation of heavy and
oversized cargo and various special-purpose
vehicles. Although in commercial use too, the
Russian military is beloved to own 14 of the
AN-124-100 version of the jumbo cargo jet,
manufactured by the Russian Antonov.


Source- saharareporters.com/2014/12/07/ex-borno-governor-ali-modu-sheriff-secret-visit-arms-laden-chad-bound-plane-detained

One thing a m sure of is that you will never get the report of the ''INTENSED'' investigation. GOD help my country.