The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final forfeiture order for a Hawker 800XP private jet allegedly linked to fraud, corruption and money laundering connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the ruling on Monday, ordering that the aircraft be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The aircraft, identified as a Hawker 125 with registration number 5N-AMK and serial number 258553, was seized following an EFCC investigation into alleged financial misconduct surrounding contracts awarded under the power project.
In his judgment, Justice Nwite held that Valiente Jet Limited, a company linked to businessman Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, failed to provide sufficient evidence showing that the funds used to acquire the aircraft were lawfully obtained.
“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 nature of the deal.
The EFCC had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order in November 2025 and subsequently published notices inviting interested parties to explain why the aircraft should not be permanently forfeited.
According to court documents, the anti-graft agency began investigations after receiving intelligence reports alleging conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering involving Kachallah.
Investigators alleged that in 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) awarded contracts worth more than $114 million and ₦23 billion under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
At the time, Kachallah was said to be serving as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the project steering committee.
The EFCC alleged that he used his position to facilitate unlawful dealings involving China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC), which later secured contracts valued at over $52 million and ₦20 billion under the project.
According to investigators, part of the contract proceeds amounting to $2.07 million was transferred into the account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under claims of subcontracting arrangements.
The Commission further alleged that forged invoices were prepared to legitimise the transactions before the funds were moved to Brazil for the purchase of the aircraft.
Investigators also claimed the aircraft was initially acquired through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited before ownership documents were allegedly altered and transferred to Valiente Jet Limited.
Kachallah, however, opposed the forfeiture application through his legal team, arguing that the payments were tied to consultancy services and contractual agreements between his companies and CMEC.
His counsel also challenged the admissibility of some documents tendered by the EFCC.
But EFCC counsel, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Iheanacho Ekele, argued that the transactions violated provisions of the ICPC Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The prosecution further urged the court to “lift the corporate veil” surrounding the companies involved, arguing that the firms were allegedly used to conceal unlawful transactions.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Nwite ruled in favour of the EFCC and ordered the final forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
