The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, May 18, 2026, secured a final forfeiture order for a Hawker 800XP private jet before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over its alleged links to fraud, corruption, and money laundering connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
The aircraft, with model number 800XP, serial number 258553, and registration number 5N-AMK, was forfeited following an application by the EFCC.
Ruling on the application, Justice Nwite held that Valiente Jet Limited, a company owned by Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, an interested party in the matter, 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, stressing that 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 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 Limited, owned by Alhaji Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, filed affidavits to show cause. The application for final forfeiture was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Aminu Abdullahi, an investigator with the EFCC.
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 showed 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 investigation further 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 routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under the false claim that the company had been subcontracted by CMEC.
CMEC transferred the sum of $2,070,000 (Two Million, 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 prepared in the name of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to falsely portray that legitimate services had been rendered to CMEC.
The funds were thereafter transferred to a Brazilian account for the purchase of the aircraft from a Brazilian company.
Kachallah allegedly used Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to acquire the aircraft before forging documents to transfer ownership to Valiente Jet Limited, a company linked to him.
Although Kachallah opposed the application, claiming that payments made by CMEC into the bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited were based on a contract his company entered into with CMEC to facilitate the award of the contract under the MEPP and to provide consultancy services, the EFCC disputed the claim.
The matter was argued by the parties on April 30, 2026. The EFCC, represented by Iheanacho Ekele, SAN, and O.S. Ujam, argued that Kachallah’s actions violated Sections 8, 10, and 53 of the ICPC Act, as well as the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, adding that evidence showed Kachallah was a public officer appointed by the Borno State Government.
Kachallah, represented by M.E. Oru, SAN, maintained that he was separate from the companies that entered into the agreements and argued that some of the exhibits attached to the EFCC’s affidavit were inadmissible.
The submission was rebutted by Iheanacho, who cited several judicial authorities to argue that in cases of fraud or illegality, the law permits the lifting of the corporate veil to identify the individuals behind companies. He relied on the case of Oyebanji v. State.
He also argued that the documents attached to the affidavit did not require further certification, relying on the authorities of Aondoakaa v. Obot & Anor and Musa v. Jika.
In a well-considered judgment, Justice Nwite, having been satisfied with the evidence placed before the court, granted the final forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
May 18, 2026
