Court orders forfeiture of private jet linked to alleged N23.1bn power fraud
Federal High Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Private Jet Tied to Fraud in Power Project
A Federal High Court has mandated the permanent forfeiture of a private jet valued at $114.1 million and 23.1 billion naira, linked to fraudulent activities associated with the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
This decision was announced via a statement from the Nigeria National Grid.
The statement indicated that an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed that Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah allegedly provided bidding information to China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) in exchange for financial incentives.
According to the EFCC, CMEC transferred approximately $2.07 million through Afuwa Integrated Services, identified as a Bureau De Change operator, using forged invoices to facilitate the acquisition of the aircraft for Valiente Jet Limited.
Justice Emeka Nwite characterized the transaction as a covert arrangement tied to the fraudulent activities related to MEPP.
Justice Nwite condemned the transaction and ruled that the asset be forfeited to the Federal Government. The court’s order signifies a crucial step in addressing financial misconduct within the government procurement process.
