COURT ORDERS FINAL FORFEITURE OF PRIVATE JET LINKED TO MAIDUGURI POWER PROJECT FRAUD
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured a final forfeiture order for a Hawker private jet allegedly linked to fraud, corruption and money laundering connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday ordered the forfeiture of the aircraft — a Hawker 125, model 800XP, serial number 258553, registration number 5N-AMK — to the Federal Government following an application filed by the EFCC.
According to a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the court held that Valiente Jet Limited, a company linked to Abdulsalam Kachallah, failed to provide convincing evidence showing the lawful source of funds used in acquiring the aircraft.
Justice Nwite ruled that the manner in which the aircraft was allegedly purchased through a Bureau De Change operator who denied knowledge of the transaction further strengthened claims that the acquisition was unlawful.
“The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft. The disguised manner through which the aircraft was acquired using the name of a Bureau De Change operator who denied knowledge of the nature of the transaction further lent credence to the unlawfulness of the entire transaction,” the judge stated.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, directing the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national newspaper for interested parties to show cause why the aircraft should not be permanently forfeited.
Following the publication, Valiente Jet Limited, owned by Kachallah, filed affidavits opposing the forfeiture.
In an affidavit supporting the application, EFCC investigator Aminu Abdullahi said the commission received intelligence reports alleging conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering involving Kachallah.
According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited awarded contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project in 2021 valued at $114.1 million and over ₦23.1 billion.
The commission alleged that Kachallah, who served as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and was also a member of the project steering committee, used his position to engage in illicit dealings tied to the project.
The EFCC further alleged that Kachallah entered into unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company through companies linked to him and provided privileged bidding information in exchange for financial inducements.
Investigators said CMEC later secured three contracts under the project worth $52.1 million and more than ₦20.2 billion.
Part of the funds, according to the EFCC, was routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under the claim that it had been subcontracted by CMEC.
The anti-graft agency alleged that CMEC transferred $2.07 million into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited on Kachallah’s instruction, after which forged invoices were allegedly prepared to portray the payments as legitimate transactions.
The EFCC said the funds were later transferred to a Brazilian account for the purchase of the aircraft from a Brazilian company.
The commission also alleged that Kachallah used Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to acquire the aircraft before allegedly forging documents to transfer ownership to Valiente Jet Limited.
Kachallah, however, opposed the application through his counsel, M.E. Oru (SAN), arguing that the payments made through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited were based on a consultancy agreement with CMEC relating to the project.
The defence also maintained that Kachallah was separate from the companies involved and challenged the admissibility of some documents presented by the EFCC.
Counsel to the EFCC, Iheanacho Ekele (SAN), argued that in matters involving fraud and illegality, the court had the authority to lift the corporate veil to identify the individuals behind corporate entities.
In his final judgment, Justice Nwite held that the EFCC had presented sufficient evidence to justify the application and consequently ordered the permanent forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government.
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