The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to, within 24 hours, release socialite and businesswoman Aisha Achimugu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, further stated that parties in the matter, especially the EFCC, are to report to the court to submit a report on compliance with the order of court on May 2, 2025.
Recall that on Monday, Justice Ekwo ordered Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an ongoing investigation into money laundering and other offences.
Justice Ekwo also ruled that after her appearance at the EFCC office, the anti-graft agency must accompany her and appear before the court on Wednesday, April 30, to report.
Meanwhile, at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, the EFCC apprehended Achimugu at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The EFCC is looking into Achimugu’s involvement in a conspiracy, getting money under false pretences, money laundering, corruption, and ownership of property that is reasonably suspected of being gained illegally.
The EFCC had previously arrested and questioned her, but the agency freed her on administrative bail.
However, the EFCC claimed that she jumped bail and declared Achimugu wanted.
The EFCC issued a press statement urging 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.
In their affidavit to show cause, the EFCC stated that on February 12, 2024, when Achimugu was previously arrested, she wrote a statement in their office with her lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba.
According to the commission’s statement, she described some of the large funds that flowed through her corporate bank accounts.
According to the statement, Achimugu stated that her partners paid ₦8,710,000,000.00 (eight billion, seven hundred and ten million naira) as an investment fund for the purchase and payment of a signature bonus for the acquisition of an oil bloc on November 8, 2022.
Further investigation, however, revealed that Achimugu, through her company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, acquired two oil blocs, namely Shallow Water -PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore -PPL 302-DO, for a total of $25,300,000 (twenty-five million, three hundred thousand dollars), primarily through cash payments made to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, who in turn paid the Federal Government via corporate accounts.
The commission claimed that the ultimate sources of the $25,300,000 used in the acquisition of the oil blocs were unrelated to her legitimate revenues, 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 claimed that following the court’s ruling in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024, which dismissed Achimugu’s complaint, the commission continued its investigation by sending letters to other government agencies, including FIRS, CBN, and others.
Further inquiry found that Achimugu had 136 bank accounts in ten different banks, both personal and business.
Achimugu filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, Nigeria Police Force, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigerian Immigration Service to prevent her arrest.
In an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, among others, Achimugu sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from threatening or harassing her with arrest, detention, and invasion of her “properties or threatening to impede her fundamental right to freedom of movement, liberty, privacy, and properties.”
Achimugu provided ten reasons why her appeal should be approved, claiming that on March 28, the EFCC declared her wanted.
She claimed that her proclamation as ‘wanted’ was unwarranted, unreasonable, devoid of probable cause, and intended to embarrass, humiliate, and expose her to public ridicule, causing irreparable harm to her reputation, personal dignity, and professional standing.
While Achimugu’s rights enforcement suit was set to be heard on April 11, her lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, informed the court that the respondents had failed to react or appear, despite having been served with the court order.
Justice Inyang Ekwo indicated a willingness to hear from the respondents and adjourned the case to April 28, 2025, ordering that a hearing notice be issued to the respondents.
The judge stressed that the respondents are given one more chance to appear and explain why Achimugu’s reliefs should not be granted.
At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, Ogunwujimi informed Justice Ekwo that his client (Achimugu) had submitted an affidavit of facts with the court that morning.
In a short ruling, Justice Ekwo held, saying, “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 2nd May 2025.”
The case was also adjourned to the same day for the hearing of the processes filed.
