A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a Hawker 125 private jet allegedly linked to fraud and money laundering connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP), a major energy infrastructure contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in 2021.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Maitama, followed an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argued that the aircraft was acquired through suspicious financial arrangements tied to the controversial power project. The aircraft, identified as a Hawker 800XP with registration number 5N-AMK, has now been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, investigations uncovered cases of conspiracy, corruption, obtaining money under false pretences, and money laundering involving individuals connected to the project. The anti-graft agency maintained that the funds used to purchase the jet could not be legitimately traced.
The court, on 13 November 2025, held that Valiente Jet Limited, reportedly linked to businessman Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, failed to provide convincing evidence regarding the lawful source of funds used for the acquisition of the aircraft.
“Investigations showed that in 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) awarded contracts under the project valued at $114,148,155 and N23,172,969,904,” part of EFCC’s statement read on Monday.
Justice Nwite further noted that the aircraft was allegedly purchased through a concealed arrangement involving a Bureau de Change operator who reportedly denied any knowledge of the transaction, deepening suspicions surrounding the deal.
Growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s energy sector
The forfeiture order marks another significant development in ongoing anti-corruption investigations tied to energy-sector contracts and NNPCL-linked projects.
In recent months, the EFCC has intensified investigations into allegations of financial misconduct involving major gas, power, and petroleum infrastructure projects, resulting in the seizure of several high-value assets and funds linked to former officials and contractors.
The Maiduguri Emergency Power Project was initiated to improve electricity supply and energy reliability in Nigeria’s North-East region, which continues to face infrastructure challenges resulting from years of insurgency and underdevelopment.
However, the court’s decision has renewed concerns over governance standards, procurement integrity, and oversight mechanisms surrounding emergency intervention projects within the country’s energy sector. EFA
