Release Achimugu Within 24 Hours, Court Orders EFCC
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the release of embattled businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who tried the matter, gave the order on Wednesday, mandating the anti-graft agency to comply without delay and report its compliance by May 2, 2025.
Achimugu, the Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Tuesday, April 29, upon her return from London.
She had previously been declared wanted by the EFCC on March 28, 2025, in connection with allegations of money laundering, criminal conspiracy, and illegal possession of property believed to have been acquired through fraudulent means.
The EFCC’s charges are related to a controversial investment scandal involving MBA Trading and Capital Limited, which allegedly defrauded investors of billions of naira.
According to the agency, 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 $25.3 million.
The EFCC claims the acquisition was funded using unexplained cash transactions routed through Bureau De Change operators, with alleged bribes paid to officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
In response to the accusations, Achimugu had filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit on April 3, seeking protection from what she described as illegal arrest and detention by the EFCC and other security agencies. On April 29, the court had ordered her to present herself for questioning, with the expectation that she would appear in court the next day.
According to her legal counsel, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chikaosolu Ojukwu, Achimugu voluntarily returned to Nigeria to comply with the court’s directive and was subsequently detained contrary to the earlier legal agreement. Ojukwu argued that the arrest constituted a breach of her fundamental rights, describing his client as a “prisoner of conscience” and revealing that she had begun a hunger strike in protest.
The EFCC, however, maintains that Achimugu’s detention was lawful, citing the severity of the allegations and the risk of flight. It also reiterated its commitment to pursuing accountability in cases involving large-scale financial crimes.
Justice Ekwo’s ruling underscores the judiciary’s emphasis on upholding legal procedures and individual liberties during ongoing investigations, especially when a suspect has made good faith efforts to comply with court orders.
As the legal battle continues to unfold, the case is being closely watched by legal analysts, civil rights advocates, and members of the business community, with broader implications for the EFCC’s approach to high-profile financial crime investigations.
