EFCC forfeiture of jet confirmed as Abuja court orders fraud-linked aircraft surrendered to the Federal Government

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission final forfeiture of a Hawker private jet allegedly linked to fraud, corruption and money laundering connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, ordered that the aircraft, a Hawker 125 model 800XP with registration number 5N-AMK, be forfeited to the Federal Government after ruling that the acquisition process was unlawful.

The order followed an application filed by the EFCC against Valiente Jet Limited, a company linked to Abdulsalam Kachallah.

In a statement issued by EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, the court held that the company failed to provide convincing evidence showing the lawful source of funds used to purchase the aircraft.

Justice Nwite said the transaction was further tainted by the manner in which the aircraft was allegedly acquired through a Bureau De Change operator that denied knowledge of the deal.

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

“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 issued an interim forfeiture order on November 13, 2025, directing the anti-graft agency to publish the decision in a national newspaper for interested parties to contest the application.

Following the publication, Valiente Limited filed affidavits opposing the permanent forfeiture.

In an affidavit before the court, EFCC investigator Aminu Abdullahi said the commission received intelligence alleging conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering involving Kachallah.

According to the EFCC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited awarded contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project in 2021 valued at $114.1m and more than ₦23.1bn.

Investigators alleged that Kachallah, who served as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and was a member of the project steering committee, used his position to engage in illicit dealings tied to the project.

The commission further alleged that Kachallah entered unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company through firms linked to him and supplied privileged bidding information in exchange for financial inducements.

The EFCC said the Chinese firm later secured three contracts under the project valued at $52.1m and more than ₦20.2bn.

Part of the contract funds, according to investigators, was routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator allegedly presented as a subcontractor.

The anti-graft agency alleged that CMEC transferred $2.07m into the Stanbic IBTC Bank account of Afuwa Integrated Services Limited on Kachallah’s instruction before forged invoices were allegedly prepared to create the appearance of legitimate services.

Investigators said the funds were later transferred to a Brazilian account for the purchase of the aircraft in a move the commission described as sophisticated money laundering.

The EFCC also alleged that Kachallah later used Afuwa Integrated Services Limited to acquire the jet before documents were allegedly forged to transfer ownership to Valiente Jet Limited.

Kachallah, through his counsel, M.E. Oru (SAN), opposed the application and argued that payments made through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited were based on a consultancy agreement with CMEC relating to the power project.

The defence also challenged the admissibility of some of the documents tendered by the EFCC and argued that Kachallah was legally distinct from the companies involved in the transaction.

Counsel to the EFCC, Iheanacho Ekele (SAN), however, argued that courts could lift the corporate veil in cases involving fraud and illegality to identify individuals behind corporate entities.

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In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the EFCC had presented sufficient and compelling evidence to justify the final forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government.