Court orders forfeiture of private jet linked to alleged N23.1bn power fraud

A Federal High Court has ordered the final forfeiture of a private jet allegedly linked to fraud connected to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project, MEPP, valued at 114.1 million dollars and N23.1 billion.

The development was disclosed in a statement posted on the official page of the Nigeria National Grid.

According to the statement, investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly revealed that Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah leaked bidding information to China Machinery Engineering Company, CMEC, in exchange for financial kickbacks.

The statement alleged that CMEC later transferred about 2.07 million dollars through Afuwa Integrated Services, identified as a Bureau De Change operator, using what were described as forged invoices to facilitate the purchase of the aircraft for Valiente Jet Limited.

Justice Emeka Nwite reportedly described the transaction as a disguised arrangement linked to fraudulent activities surrounding the project.

“Justice Nwite condemned the disguised transaction, forfeiting the asset to the FG. The court ordered the permanent forfeiture of the aircraft to the Federal Government,” the statement read.