Finally wealthy businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Her lawyer confirmed her arrest on Tuesday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Achimugu, who was declared wanted by the EFCC in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, was taken into custody around 5 a.m. shortly after arriving from London.
Her arrest comes a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo, ordered her to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday, and also to appear in court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Her lawyer, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed the arrest, stating: “Aisha Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested by the EFCC around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.”
Recall that, Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Aisha Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to answer questions regarding an ongoing investigation.
The judge also directed that she must appear before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
The order was made in a ruling delivered on Monday, April 28, 2025, in respect of a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, filed by Achimugu against several law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, the Department of State Services, DSS, the EFCC, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ,NSCDC, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.
In its response to Achimugu’s application, EFCC’s Counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court of a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Chris Odofin, outlining the circumstances leading to her invitation. In the affidavit, Odofin disclosed that Achimugu is under investigation for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption and possession of property reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.
Achimugu had initially honoured the Commission’s invitation on February 12, 2024, during which she made a written statement and was subsequently granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba.
However, she allegedly failed to report back as agreed, choosing instead to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Commission. The affidavit further revealed that Achimugu, in her statement, explained the inflow of N8.71 billion into her corporate bank accounts as an ” investment fund” for the acquisition of an oil block. She claimed the funds were transferred to the Federal Government’s account through her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, referencing documentation from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.
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