EFCC seizes private jet linked to NNPCL-funded power project fraud

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured a final forfeiture order on a Hawker 800XP private jet linked to alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering involving the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project, MEPP.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, ordered the permanent forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government after ruling that the owners failed to prove the lawful origin of funds used for its acquisition.

The aircraft, a Hawker 125 with serial number 258553 and registration number 5N-AMK, was linked to alleged illicit transactions surrounding contracts awarded under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that Valiente Jet Limited, the company claiming ownership of the aircraft and linked to businessman Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, failed to provide credible evidence showing that the jet was acquired legitimately.

“The interested party has not demonstrated with evidence the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the aircraft,” the judge ruled.

He further noted that the “disguised manner” in which the aircraft was purchased through a Bureau De Change operator who reportedly denied knowledge of the transaction strengthened the case for forfeiture.

The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, directing the EFCC to publish the order for interested parties to show cause why the aircraft should not be permanently forfeited.

According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that in 2021, the NNPCL awarded contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project worth over $114.1 million and N23.17 billion.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Kachallah, who was Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the project steering committee, exploited his position to facilitate illicit deals connected to the contracts.

Investigators said Kachallah entered unlawful arrangements with China Machinery Engineering Company, CMEC, through companies in which he allegedly had substantial interests.

The EFCC said privileged bidding information relating to the project was sold in exchange for financial inducements, leading to the award of three contracts to CMEC valued at over $52.1 million and N20.2 billion.

According to the Commission, part of the funds was routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, under the guise of subcontract payments.

“CMEC transferred the sum of $2,070,000 into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited on Kachallah’s instruction,” the EFCC stated.

The agency further alleged that forged invoices were created to falsely indicate that Afuwa Integrated Services had rendered legitimate services to CMEC, after which the funds were transferred to Brazil for the purchase of the aircraft.

Investigators said Kachallah later used forged documents to transfer ownership of the aircraft to Valiente Jet Limited, a company allegedly linked to him.

During proceedings, counsel to the EFCC, Iheanacho Ekele SAN and O.S. Ujam, argued that Kachallah’s actions violated provisions of the ICPC Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

The defence, led by M.E. Oru SAN, argued that Kachallah was separate from the companies involved in the transactions and challenged the admissibility of some documents tendered by the EFCC.

However, EFCC counsel countered that in cases involving fraud and illegality, the court could pierce the corporate veil to identify individuals behind corporate entities.