By: Abdullahi Inuwa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of a luxury private jet linked to an alleged multi-billion-naira fraud and money laundering scheme surrounding the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Monday ordered the permanent forfeiture of the Hawker 125 private aircraft to the Federal Government after ruling that the owners failed to prove the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire it.
The aircraft, identified as a Hawker 800XP with serial number 258553 and registration number 5N-AMK, was said to be connected to alleged fraudulent dealings involving contracts awarded under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)-backed emergency power project in Borno State.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite held that Valiente Jet Limited, a company linked to businessman Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, failed to provide convincing evidence showing the lawful source of the money used to purchase the jet.
“The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft,” the judge ruled.
The court also noted that the aircraft was allegedly acquired through a disguised transaction involving a Bureau De Change operator who reportedly denied knowledge of the actual nature of the deal.
The EFCC had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, before publishing notices in national newspapers inviting interested parties to show cause why the jet should not be permanently forfeited.
Following the publication, Valiente Limited filed affidavits challenging the forfeiture, but the court ultimately dismissed the claims and granted the EFCC’s request for final forfeiture.
According to court documents and EFCC investigations, the anti-graft agency received intelligence reports alleging conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and money laundering involving Kachallah.
Investigators alleged that in 2021, the NNPCL awarded contracts worth over $114 million and ₦23.1 billion under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
At the time, Kachallah was serving as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and was also a member of the project’s steering committee.
The EFCC alleged that he exploited his position and insider access to engage in illicit dealings tied to the project, including leaking confidential bidding information to China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) in exchange for financial inducements.
Investigators claimed that CMEC later secured three major contracts under the project valued at over $52 million and ₦20.2 billion.
Part of the contract funds, according to the EFCC, was allegedly routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under the false claim that the company was subcontracted by CMEC.
The Commission further alleged that CMEC transferred $2.07 million into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited based on Kachallah’s instruction.
Investigations reportedly uncovered forged invoices prepared in the company’s name to create the impression that legitimate services had been rendered.
The EFCC told the court that the funds were subsequently moved to a Brazilian account and used to purchase the private jet from a Brazilian company.
The ruling marks another major milestone in the EFCC’s ongoing crackdown on corruption, illicit financial flows, and abuse of public office linked to major government contracts.
The Commission has repeatedly vowed to intensify efforts to trace and recover assets allegedly acquired through fraudulent means, especially in cases involving public funds and strategic national projects.
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