BREAKING: COURT DIRECTS EFCC TO FREE AISHA ACHIMUGU WITHIN 24 HOURS
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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu within 24 hours.
In a brief ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo directed all parties involved—especially the EFCC—to return to court on May 2, 2025, to report on their compliance with the order.
Earlier on Monday, Justice Ekwo had instructed Achimugu to present herself to the EFCC for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation involving alleged money laundering and other related offenses.
The judge also mandated that after her appearance at the EFCC office, she should be brought before the court alongside the agency on Wednesday, April 30, to provide a status update.
Achimugu was reportedly arrested by EFCC operatives at 5 a.m. on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
She is under investigation for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, money laundering, corruption, and unlawful possession of property.
Although she had previously been questioned and released on administrative bail, the case has continued to unfold.
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However, EFCC alleged that she jumped bail and declared Achimugu wanted.
The EFCC in a press statement urged the public to provide information about Achimugu’s whereabouts, “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 statement read.
The EFCC in its affidavit to show cause, 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. (eight billion, seven hundred and ten million naira) 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 Nov. 8, 2022.
It said further investigation however revealed that Achimugu, through her company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oli and Gas Limited, acquired two oil blocs, namely Shallow Water -PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore-PPL 302-DO for the total sum of $25, 300, 000 (twenty-five million, three hundred thousand dollars) 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.
“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.
“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 said.
The anti-graft agency averred that following the decision of the court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024, which dismissed Achimugu’s suit, the commission, in continuation of its investigation, sent letters to some agencies of government, including FIRS, CBN, etc.
It said further investigation revealed that Achimugu operates a total of 136 bank accounts across ten different banks, both in her personal and corporate names.
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