A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a Hawker 800XP private jet linked to alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering in the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Monday, May 18, 2026, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The aircraft, identified as a Hawker private jet 125 with model number 800XP, serial number 258553 and registration number 5N-AMK, was forfeited to the Federal Government after the court held that the interested party failed to prove the lawful source of funds used to acquire it.
The case is tied to contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project, valued at $114.1 million and ₦23.17 billion.
The EFCC had asked the court to make final an earlier interim forfeiture order granted on November 13, 2025. The court had also directed the commission to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow interested parties show cause why the aircraft should not be permanently forfeited.
Following the publication, Valiente Jet Limited, a company linked to Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, filed affidavits opposing the final forfeiture.
But Justice Nwite ruled that Valiente Jet Limited did not provide sufficient evidence to establish the legitimate origin of the funds used to buy the aircraft.
“The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft,” the judge held.
The court also found that the aircraft was acquired through a disguised transaction involving a Bureau De Change operator who allegedly denied knowledge of the true nature of the transaction.
According to an affidavit filed by Aminu Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator, the commission received intelligence bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering involving Kachallah.
The EFCC said its investigation revealed that Kachallah, who was then Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the MEPP steering committee, used his position and relationship with officials of NNPCL to engage in illicit dealings connected to the project.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Kachallah entered into unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company, CMEC, through companies in which he had substantial interest.
He was also accused of selling privileged bidding information relating to the project in exchange for financial inducements.
Investigators said CMEC was subsequently awarded three contracts under the project valued at $52.12 million and ₦20.21 billion.
The EFCC further alleged that 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.
According to the commission, CMEC transferred $2.07 million into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited on Kachallah’s instruction.
The agency said forged invoices were later prepared in the name of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to falsely portray that legitimate services had been rendered to CMEC.
The funds were allegedly transferred to a Brazilian account for the purchase of the aircraft from a Brazilian company.
The EFCC alleged that Kachallah used Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to acquire the aircraft before forging documents to transfer ownership to Valiente Jet Limited.
Kachallah, through his counsel, M.E. Oru, SAN, opposed the application. He argued that payments made through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited were based on a contract his company entered into with CMEC to facilitate the award of the MEPP contract and provide consultancy services.
He also argued that Kachallah was separate from the companies involved in the agreements and that some exhibits attached to the EFCC’s affidavit were inadmissible.
EFCC counsel, Iheanacho Ekele, SAN, assisted by O.S. Ujam, countered that the alleged actions violated provisions of the ICPC Act and the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
Ekele argued that where fraud or illegality is alleged, the court can lift the veil of incorporation to identify the individuals behind the companies.
He relied on the case of Oyebanji v State and other judicial authorities to support the commission’s position.
After hearing arguments from both parties on April 30, 2026, Justice Nwite ruled that the EFCC had placed sufficient evidence before the court to justify the final forfeiture.
The court consequently ordered that the aircraft be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
