By OBSERVERS TIMES
The Federal High Court in Abuja has mandated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release socialite and businesswoman Aisha Achimugu within the next 24 hours.
In a concise ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo also directed all parties involved in the suit, particularly the EFCC, to appear before the court on May 2, 2025, to report on their compliance with this order.
This development follows Justice Ekwo’s prior directive on Monday, which instructed Achimugu to present herself to the EFCC for an ongoing investigation related to alleged money laundering and other offenses.
Justice Ekwo had further stipulated that after her appearance at the EFCC office, the anti-graft agency was to return with her to court on Wednesday, April 30, for a progress report.
However, the EFCC apprehended Achimugu around 5:00 AM on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The EFCC’s investigation into Achimugu involves allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering, corruption, and possession of unlawfully acquired properties.
While Achimugu had been previously arrested and interrogated by the EFCC, she was subsequently released on administrative bail.
The EFCC, however, claimed that she absconded, leading to her being declared wanted.
In a public statement, the EFCC urged citizens to provide any information regarding Achimugu’s whereabouts, stating, “The public is hereby notified that AISHA SULAIMAN ACHIMUGU is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.”
The EFCC, in its affidavit to justify their actions, stated that during Achimugu’s prior arrest on February 12, 2024, in the presence of her lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, she provided a statement.
According to the commission, Achimugu acknowledged in her statement that the sum of \text{N}8,710,000,000.00 (eight billion, seven hundred and ten million naira) was paid by her partners as an investment for the acquisition and payment of a signature bonus for an oil block on November 8, 2022.
Further investigation, the EFCC alleged, revealed that Achimugu, through her company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, acquired two oil blocks, Shallow Water -PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore-PPL 302-DO, for a total of \$25,300,000 (twenty-five million, three hundred thousand dollars). These payments were purportedly made primarily in cash through Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, who then transferred the funds to the Federal Government via corporate accounts.
The commission contended that the ultimate sources of the \$25,300,000 used for the oil block acquisitions were not traceable to Achimugu’s legitimate earnings or any identifiable business partners.
“That the acquisition of the Oil Blocks was marred by corrupt practices, as bribes were paid to the officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in the process,” the EFCC asserted.
The agency further stated, “That none of the Oil Blocks assigned/allocated to Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Commission has commenced exploration/production from inception to date.”
The EFCC also noted that following the court’s decision in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024, which dismissed Achimugu’s earlier suit, they continued their investigation by sending letters to various government agencies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Their ongoing investigation allegedly uncovered that Achimugu operates a total of 136 bank accounts across ten different banks, held both in her personal and corporate names.
In response to being declared wanted, Achimugu filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Immigration Service, seeking to prevent her arrest.
In an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, Achimugu sought an interim injunction restraining the respondents from threatening or harassing her with arrest, detention, and invasion of her properties, or impeding her fundamental rights to freedom of movement, liberty, privacy, and property.
Presenting ten grounds for her application, Achimugu stated that the EFCC declared her wanted on March 28.
She argued that her “wanted” declaration was unwarranted, unjustifiable, without probable cause, and intended to discredit, humiliate, and subject her to public disdain, causing irreparable damage to her reputation, personal dignity, and professional standing.
While Achimugu’s rights enforcement suit was initially scheduled for a hearing on April 11, her lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, informed the court that the respondents had neither responded nor appeared, despite being served with the court’s order.
Justice Inyang Ekwo expressed his desire to hear from the respondents and adjourned the matter to April 28, 2025, directing that a hearing notice be served on them.
The judge emphasized that this was a final opportunity for the respondents to appear and provide reasons why Achimugu’s requests should not be granted.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Ogunwujimi informed Justice Ekwo that his client had filed an affidavit of facts earlier in the morning.
In his brief ruling, Justice Ekwo stated, “The third respondent (EFCC) has granted the applicant bail. Now the court being faced with that will now allow the third respondent to conclude the issue of granting the applicant bail. I am reminded to make this order.”
“The Third respondent is hereby ordered to foster the release of the applicant within 24 hours of this order.”
“I also make an order that parties, especially the third respondent (EFCC), respond back to this court in compliance with the order on May 2, 2025.”
The matter was subsequently adjourned to the same date for the hearing of the filed processes.
