EFCC-NNPC Probe: Court Grants Final Forfeiture of Private Jet to FG

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has granted a final forfeiture order of a Hawker 125 private jet to the Federal Government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, secured the final forfeiture order of the aircraft, which was allegedly linked to fraud, corruption, and money laundering connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
The aircraft, a Hawker 125 with model number 800XP, serial number 258553, and registration number 5N-AMK, was forfeited following an application filed by the EFCC.
Ruling on the application, Justice Nwite held that Valiente Jet Limited, a company owned by Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, who was listed as an interested party, failed to show sufficient cause why the aircraft should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
“The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft,” the judge held. He further noted that the disguised manner in which the aircraft was acquired, using the name of a Bureau De Change operator who denied knowledge of the nature of the transaction, further strengthened the case that the entire transaction was unlawful.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, and directed the Commission 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 Alhaji Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, filed affidavits to show cause. The EFCC’s application for final forfeiture was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Aminu Abdullahi, an investigator with the Commission.
According to the investigator, the Commission received intelligence bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and money laundering involving Kachallah.
Investigations revealed that sometime in 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) awarded contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project valued at $114,148,155 (One Hundred and Fourteen Million, One Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty-Five Dollars) and ₦23,172,969,904 (Twenty-Three Billion, One Hundred and Seventy-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Four Naira).
Kachallah, who was then Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the project’s steering committee, allegedly used his position and relationship with officials of the NNPCL to engage in illicit dealings connected to the project.
Investigations further revealed that Kachallah entered into unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) through companies in which he had substantial interests, and allegedly sold privileged bidding information relating to the project in exchange for financial inducements.
The investigation also showed that CMEC was subsequently awarded three contracts under the project valued at $52,120,172 (Fifty-Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy-Two Dollars) and ₦20,213,956,953 (Twenty Billion, Two Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Three Naira).
Part of the contract funds was allegedly routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under the false claim that the company had been subcontracted by CMEC.
According to the EFCC, CMEC transferred the sum of $2,070,000 (Two Million and Seventy Thousand Dollars) into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited on Kachallah’s instruction.
Investigations further revealed that forged invoices were allegedly prepared in the name of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to falsely portray that legitimate services had been rendered to CMEC.
The funds were thereafter allegedly transferred to a Brazilian account for the purchase of the aircraft from a Brazilian company.