Court Hands EFCC Final Control of Private Jet Linked to NNPC Power Project Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured a final court order forfeiting a luxury private jet allegedly linked to fraud and money laundering connected to the controversial Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on may, 18, 2026, granted the final forfeiture of the Hawker 800XP aircraft after ruling that the individuals and companies connected to the jet failed to prove that the aircraft was acquired through legitimate means.
The private jet, identified with registration number 5N-AMK, was linked to Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, a former chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board and a member of the steering committee overseeing the power project.
According to court findings, investigators traced the purchase of the aircraft to funds allegedly diverted from contracts awarded under the multi-billion-naira Maiduguri Emergency Power Project handled by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The EFCC told the court that Kachallah used his position and insider access to secretly benefit from contract arrangements involving China Machinery Engineering Company, one of the firms awarded major contracts under the project.
Investigators alleged that privileged bidding information was illegally shared in exchange for financial benefits tied to the contracts.
The anti-graft agency further claimed that more than $2 million was moved through a Bureau De Change company under the false claim of consultancy and subcontracting services.
According to the EFCC, forged invoices and suspicious financial transfers were later used to purchase the aircraft from a company in Brazil before ownership documents were allegedly manipulated.
Although lawyers representing Kachallah opposed the forfeiture and argued that the transactions were linked to legitimate agreements between private companies, the court ruled that the explanations provided were not convincing enough.
Justice Nwite held that there was insufficient evidence to prove the lawful source of the funds used to acquire the aircraft.
The judge also noted that the manner in which the jet was purchased and transferred raised serious concerns about concealment and unlawful financial dealings.
The ruling followed an earlier interim forfeiture order issued in 2025, after which interested parties were asked to explain why the aircraft should not permanently become government property.
The latest judgment marks another major victory for the EFCC in its ongoing crackdown on corruption, money laundering, and abuse of public office involving government-linked projects.
The case has also renewed public attention on how billions of naira tied to emergency infrastructure projects are allegedly diverted through complex financial arrangements and shell companies.
With the final forfeiture now approved, the aircraft officially becomes property of the Federal Government as investigations into the wider power project dealings continue.