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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a final forfeiture order for a Hawker private jet allegedly connected to fraud, corruption, and money laundering linked to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, granted the order on Monday, directing that the Hawker 125, Model 800XP, serial number 258553, registration number 5N-AMK, be permanently forfeited to the Nigerian Government following an application by the EFCC.
The court agreed that Valiente Jet Limited, a company associated with Abdulsalam Kachallah, failed to prove the lawful origin of the funds used to acquire the aircraft. It also noted that the jet was purchased through a Bureau De Change operator who denied any knowledge of the transaction, which further raised concerns over illegality.
The court had earlier issued an interim forfeiture order on 13 November 2025 and directed the EFCC to publish it in a national newspaper for any interested party to respond. After publication, Valiente Limited filed affidavits opposing the application, but the court rejected its arguments.
EFCC investigator Aminu Abdullahi told the court that intelligence linked Kachallah to alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and money laundering in relation to contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
Investigations showed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) awarded contracts worth $114.1m and over ₦23.1bn in 2021. The EFCC alleged that Kachallah, while serving as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the project steering committee, exploited his position to influence contract awards.
The commission further alleged that he entered agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company through linked firms and shared sensitive bidding information in exchange for financial benefits. CMEC reportedly secured contracts worth $52.1m and over ₦20.2bn.
According to the EFCC, part of the funds was routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, before being transferred to a Brazilian account used to purchase the aircraft. The agency also alleged that ownership was later transferred to Valiente Jet Limited using falsified documents.
Kachallah’s legal team, led by M.E. Oru (SAN), argued that the transactions were based on a consultancy agreement and that the companies involved were separate legal entities. However, EFCC counsel Iheanacho Ekele (SAN) urged the court to lift the corporate veil to identify those behind the transactions.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the EFCC had presented sufficient evidence and ordered the permanent forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government.
