The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final forfeiture order of a Hawker 125 private jet linked to alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, granted the order on Monday, May 18, 2026.
The aircraft, identified as Hawker 800XP with serial number 258553 and registration number 5N-AMK, was forfeited to the Federal Government following an application filed by the EFCC.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that Valiente Jet Limited, a company owned by Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the lawful source of funds used in acquiring the aircraft.
“The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft,” the judge ruled.
The court further noted that the manner in which the aircraft was acquired through the name of a Bureau De Change operator, who reportedly denied knowledge of the transaction, strengthened suspicions surrounding the illegality of the purchase.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, and directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow interested parties show cause why the aircraft should not be permanently forfeited.
Following the publication, Valiente Limited, owned by Alhaji Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, filed affidavits challenging the forfeiture.
The EFCC’s application for final forfeiture was supported by an affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Aminu Abdullahi.
According to the Commission, investigations revealed alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering involving Kachallah.
The EFCC disclosed that in 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) awarded contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project valued at $114,148,155 and ₦23,172,969,904.
Kachallah, who served as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and was also a member of the project’s steering committee, allegedly used his position and relationship with NNPCL officials to engage in illicit dealings connected to the project.
Investigators alleged that Kachallah entered into unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) through companies in which he had substantial interests and sold privileged bidding information relating to the project in exchange for financial inducements.
The EFCC stated that CMEC was eventually awarded three contracts under the project valued at $52,120,172 and ₦20,213,956,953.
Part of the contract funds, according to the Commission, was routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under the pretext that the company was subcontracted by CMEC.
The anti-graft agency further revealed that CMEC transferred $2,070,000 into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited based on Kachallah’s instruction.
Investigations also uncovered alleged forged invoices prepared in the name of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to falsely indicate that legitimate services had been rendered to CMEC.
The EFCC said the funds were later transferred to a Brazilian account used for the purchase of the private jet from a Brazilian company.
