By Endurance Enemona Samuel
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a private jet linked to Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, a former Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board, to the Federal Government.
The ruling was delivered on Monday following an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which alleged that the aircraft was connected to proceeds of corruption and fraud linked to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP).
Court Rejects Ownership Claim
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, held that Valiente Jet Limited — a company owned by Kachallah — failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish the lawful origin of funds used to acquire the aircraft.
The company had appeared in court as an interested party in opposition to the EFCC’s forfeiture application.
EFCC Links Aircraft to Power Project Fraud
According to the EFCC, the private jet was traced to alleged corrupt practices connected to contracts awarded under the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project.
The agency stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited awarded power-related contracts worth approximately $114.1 million under the project framework.
The EFCC further alleged that Kachallah, while serving as chairman of the Borno electrification board and a member of the project steering committee, used his position and access to officials to facilitate illicit financial transactions.
Profile of Abdulsalam Kachallah
Abdulsalam Mustapha Kachallah, popularly known as “Bom Boy,” is a politician and engineer from Borno State and the son of the late former governor, Mala Kachallah, who governed the state between 1999 and 2003.
He was appointed in 2021 by Governor Babagana Zulum as Chairman of the Borno State Rural Electrification Board.
Kachallah studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Maiduguri and is affiliated with professional bodies including the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Political Background and Party Movements
In 2019, Kachallah defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council federal constituency election for the House of Representatives.
He later emerged as an aspirant for the same federal constituency seat under the APC and obtained nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the party’s primary elections.
He was photographed with Governor Babagana Zulum while holding his nomination documents during his political campaign activities.
APC Primary Election Outcome
Before the party primaries, Kachallah reportedly rejected a consensus arrangement backed by some APC stakeholders in Borno State, which was said to favour the incumbent lawmaker Abdulkadir Rahis.
In the primary election held on Saturday, Rahis was declared winner after polling 38,576 votes, defeating Kachallah and other contenders in the constituency race
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