COURT DISMISSES BRITISH BUSINESSWOMAN’S BID FOR RELEASE FROM EFCC CUSTODY OVER N500M FRAUD ALLEGATION

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has dismissed an application filed by British businesswoman, Aminah Momoh-Orimoloye, seeking her release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Momoh-Orimoloye, who coordinates the Economic Empowerment of Women and Youth in Livestock Agriculture, was arrested on August 5, 2025, following a petition alleging conspiracy and diversion of funds in a foreign exchange transaction worth ₦1.663 billion.

According to the petitioner, ₦1.663 billion was paid into the account of Abdullahi Muhammed, who allegedly remitted only ₦1.163 billion, leaving an outstanding ₦500 million unaccounted for. Preliminary investigations linked Momoh-Orimoloye, Muhammed, Auwal Ali, and others to the alleged diversion.

Through her counsel, Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), the suspect argued that her detention violated her fundamental rights and described the EFCC’s bail conditions as excessive.

However, EFCC counsel, S. I. Suleiman, urged the court to dismiss the application, stressing that the suspect posed a flight risk as a foreign resident and had presented questionable sureties, including one who admitted to falsely claiming to be her relative.

Justice Musa Kakaki, in his ruling, held that the EFCC had already granted administrative bail but that Momoh-Orimoloye failed to meet the conditions. He maintained that her inability to provide credible sureties could not be deemed a violation of her rights.

“Having been granted bail, what the applicant ought to do is fulfil the bail terms,” the judge ruled, dismissing the application for lack of merit.