The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of a Hawker 125-800XP private jet to the Federal Government. The aircraft is allegedly linked to corruption, fraud, and money laundering tied to the $114.1 million Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).

Presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, granted the final forfeiture order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The aircraft bears serial number 258553 and registration number 5N-AMK.

Failure to Prove Lawful Acquisitio 

In a statement issued by EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Justice Nwite ruled that Valiente Jet Limited—a company tied to the principal suspect, Abdulsalam Kachallah—failed to provide credible evidence proving the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft.

The court highlighted the suspicious nature of the transaction, noting that the jet was acquired through a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator who later denied knowledge of the deal.

"The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft," Justice Nwite stated. "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 final order follows an interim forfeiture ruling delivered on November 13, 2025, which required the EFCC to publish notice in a national newspaper, allowing any interested parties to show cause why the asset should not be permanently forfeited. While Valiente Limited filed counter-affidavits opposing the forfeiture, the court found their arguments insufficient.

Insiders, Shell Companies, and Illicit Tenders

According to affidavits presented by EFCC investigator Aminu Abdullahi, the anti-graft agency launched an investigation into Kachallah following intelligence reports detailing conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, and money laundering.

In 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) awarded contracts for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project valued at $114.1 million and over ₦23.1 billion. At the time, Kachallah served as the Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and was a member of the project’s steering committee.

The EFCC alleged that Kachallah abused his official position by entering into unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC). He reportedly leaked privileged bidding information to CMEC in exchange for financial inducements. Consequently, CMEC secured three contracts under the project valued at $52.1 million and over ₦20.2 billion.

The Money Trail

The prosecution detailed a complex international financial trail used to launder the contract proceeds:

• The BDC Conduit: CMEC allegedly transferred $2.07 million into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a BDC operator, under the guise of a subcontract.

• Document Forgery: The EFCC claimed forged invoices were generated to make the transactions appear as payments for legitimate services.

• International Transfer: The funds were subsequently funneled to a bank account in Brazil to purchase the aircraft from a Brazilian vendor.

• Corporate Concealment: The jet was initially acquired via the BDC operator before ownership documents were allegedly forged to transfer the asset to Valiente Jet Limited.

Defense Arguments Dismissed

Kachallah, through his legal counsel, M.E. Oru (SAN), opposed the forfeiture application. The defense argued that the payments made to Afuwa Integrated Services Limited were legitimate funds stemming from a consultancy agreement with CMEC. Furthermore, the defense maintained that Kachallah was a separate legal entity from the corporate bodies involved and challenged the admissibility of the EFCC's documentary evidence.

Countering the defense, EFCC Counsel Iheanacho Ekele (SAN) argued that the court maintains the right to "lift the corporate veil" to identify individual actors when corporate structures are used as a shield for fraud and illegality.

Justice Nwite concurred with the prosecution, ruling that the EFCC had successfully established its case. The private jet has now been officially forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.