EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of Luxury Private Jet in NNPC Maiduguri Power Project Graft Probe

By Tgnews Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final forfeiture order for a Hawker 125 private jet linked to alleged fraud, corruption, and money laundering in the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, granted the order following an application by the EFCC. The aircraft, a Hawker 800XP with serial number 258553 and registration number 5N-AMK, was owned by Valiente Jet Limited, a company associated with Alhaji Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the interested party failed to demonstrate with credible evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to acquire the aircraft. The judge noted that the “disguised manner” through which the jet was purchased—using the name of a Bureau De Change operator who later denied knowledge of the transaction—reinforced suspicions of illegality.

“The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft,” Justice Nwite ruled.

The court had previously issued an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, and directed the EFCC to publish the notice in a national newspaper to allow interested parties to show cause why the asset should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. Valiente Jet Limited responded by filing affidavits, but the court found the claims insufficient.

According to an affidavit deposed by EFCC investigator Aminu Abdullahi, the Commission received intelligence on alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and money laundering involving Kachallah, who served as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the MEPP steering committee.

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.

Investigation revealed that Kachallah allegedly leveraged his position and connections within NNPCL to engage in illicit dealings.

He reportedly entered into unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) through companies in which he held substantial interests, selling privileged bidding information in exchange for financial inducements.

CMEC was subsequently awarded three contracts under the project valued at $52,120,172 and ₦20,213,956,953.

Part of the proceeds was allegedly routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under the false pretext that the company had been subcontracted by CMEC. CMEC transferred $2,070,000 into Afuwa’s Stanbic IBTC Bank account on Kachallah’s instruction. Forged invoices were reportedly generated to justify the payments as legitimate.

The funds were later moved to a Brazilian account and used to purchase the aircraft from a Brazilian company.

The final forfeiture represents a significant victory for the EFCC in its ongoing efforts to recover assets linked to corruption in public projects. The aircraft now becomes the property of the Federal Government of Nigeria.