From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release socialite and business woman, Aisha Achimugu, presently in its custody within 24 hours.
Justice Inyang Ekwo in a short ruling yesterday, further ordered that parties in the suit especially the EFCC are to report to the court to give report on compliance to the order of court on May 2, 2025.
The court had on Monday, ordered Achimugu to submit herself to the EFCC in connection with an on going investigation bordering on Money laundering and other offences.
Justice Ekwo, also held that following her appearance at the EFCC office, the commission should bring her to court on April 30.
But in a dramatic event, the EFCC arrested Achimugu at about 5a:m on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, while on her way to submit herself to the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC is investigating Achimugu on a case involving conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption, and possession of properties reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
While she was previously arrested and questioned by the EFCC, she was released on administrative bail by the commission.
The commission had alleged that Achimugu jumped bail and consequently declared her wanted.
The EFCC in a press statement, urged the public to provide information about Achimugu’s whereabouts,“The public is hereby,notified that Aisha Suleiman Achimugu is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering,” the statement read.
In a sworn affidavit to show cause, the commission averred that on February 12, 2024, when Achimugu was previously arrested, in their office with her lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, she wrote a statement.
The commission said in the statement, that she explained some of the huge funds which passed through her corporate bank accounts.
It said that Achimugu admitted the sum of N8, 710, 000, 000.00 was paid by her partners as an investment fund into the purchase and payment of a signature bonus for the acquisition of oil bloc on November 8, 2022.
It said further investigation however, revealed that Achimugu, through her company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oli and Gas Limited, acquired two oil blocs: Shallow Water -PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore-PPL 302-DO for the total sum of $25, 300, 000 through majorly cash payments made to the Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, who in turn made payments to Federal Government via corporate accounts.
The commission alleged that the ultimate sources of the said sum of $25,300,000 used in the acquisition of the oil blocs were not linked to her lawful earnings or income or any business partner.
Displeased with the wanted declaration, Achimugu filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Immigration Service to stop her planned arrest.
Achimugu in an exparte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, among others, sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from threatening or harassing her with arrest, detention and invasion of her “properties or threatening to impede her fundamental right to freedom of movement, liberty, privacy and properties”.