ABUJA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final court order for the forfeiture of a private jet allegedly bought with proceeds of fraud connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, delivered the ruling on Monday, May 18, 2026, ordering the permanent forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government.
The aircraft, identified as a Hawker 125 private jet with serial number 258553 and registration number 5N-AMK, was said to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
The court ruled that Valiente Jet Limited, a company linked to businessman Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, failed to provide sufficient evidence proving the legitimate source of funds used to purchase the aircraft.
According to Justice Nwite, the manner in which the jet was acquired — through a Bureau De Change operator who allegedly denied knowledge of the transaction — further strengthened the EFCC’s allegations of illegality.
Interim Forfeiture and Contest
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, directing the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper for interested parties to contest the forfeiture.
Following the publication, Valiente Jet Limited filed documents opposing the forfeiture. However, the EFCC, through its investigator Aminu Abdullahi, maintained that its investigation uncovered large-scale financial misconduct involving Kachallah.
Investigators alleged that in 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) awarded contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project valued at over $114 million and ₦23.1 billion.
Kachallah, who reportedly served as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the project’s steering committee, was accused of exploiting his position to engage in illicit dealings tied to the project.
Alleged Scheme with Chinese Firm
The EFCC claimed that he entered into unlawful arrangements with China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC), allegedly providing privileged bidding information in exchange for financial benefits.
According to the anti-graft agency, CMEC later secured three contracts under the project worth over $52 million and ₦20.2 billion.
Part of the contract funds, the EFCC said, was transferred through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator allegedly used to disguise the movement of funds.
Investigators disclosed that CMEC transferred $2.07 million into the company’s Stanbic IBTC Bank account on Kachallah’s instruction, under the claim that the firm had been subcontracted for consultancy services.
The EFCC further alleged that forged invoices were prepared to falsely portray legitimate business transactions before the funds were moved to Brazil for the purchase of the private jet.
The Commission also accused Kachallah of later transferring ownership of the aircraft to Valiente Jet Limited through forged documentation.
Court Ruling
During proceedings, Kachallah’s legal team argued that the payments were tied to consultancy agreements between his companies and CMEC, insisting that he was separate from the companies involved in the transactions.
However, EFCC counsel Iheanacho Ekele (SAN) and O.S. Ujam argued that the transactions violated provisions of the ICPC Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
After considering the arguments from both parties, the court ruled in favour of the EFCC and ordered the permanent forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government.
