By Seyi Babalola
Aisha Achimugu, a prominent business executive and socialite, has declared a “hunger strike” in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prison after being arrested by commission officers.
Achimugu’s legal team, led by Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, issued a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, stating that their client was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 5 a.m.
Achimugu was declared wanted by the EFCC in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Reports further stated that on Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo, ordered Achimugu to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ojukwu stated that their client had arrived freely from London to meet the EFCC invitation prior to her arrest by commission officers.
He stated that the socialite told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, through her lawyer, that she would be visiting the EFCC on Tuesday.
”In light of what transpired in court on Monday, our client returned based on the undertaking before the court to honour the EFCC’s invitation but was arrested at the airport.
“She has immediately gone on a hunger strike. She is a prisoner of conscience, and our stand on the arrest is that it has run contrary to the rule of law,” he said.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), efforts to reach out to the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on the arrest of Achimugu proved abortive as the phone rang several times without being picked up.
Ojukwu said that Achimugu was a well-known business magnate and the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group, a consortium comprising several companies in engineering, maritime, oil and gas, and information technology.