The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final forfeiture order for 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, Abuja, on Monday ordered the forfeiture of the aircraft, with registration number 5N-AMK, to the Federal Government after ruling that no sufficient reason was presented against the application.
The court held that Valiente Jet Limited, linked to Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, failed to provide evidence showing the lawful source of funds used to acquire the aircraft.
Justice Nwite also noted that the aircraft was allegedly purchased through a Bureau De Change operator who denied knowledge of the transaction, describing the arrangement as suspicious and unlawful.
The EFCC said investigations revealed that Kachallah, a former Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and member of the MEPP steering committee, used his position to engage in illicit dealings connected to contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
According to the anti-graft agency, contracts under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project worth over $114 million and ₦23.1 billion were awarded in 2021, while Kachallah allegedly entered into unlawful agreements with China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) and sold privileged bidding information in exchange for financial inducements.
The commission further alleged that part of the contract funds was routed through Afuwa Integrated Services Limited, a Bureau De Change operator, before $2.07 million was transferred to a Brazilian account for the purchase of the aircraft.
The EFCC maintained that forged invoices and ownership documents were used to disguise the transaction and transfer ownership of the jet to Valiente Jet Limited. Following arguments by both parties, the court granted the final forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government.