Businesswoman and Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd founder Aisha Achimugu has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of oppression, intimidation and a deliberate campaign to destroy her reputation, insisting she is not a criminal despite ongoing legal proceedings against her.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Achimugu said the anti-graft agency had subjected her to “oppression, character assassination, intimidation and the deliberate dissipation of my lawfully acquired personal property.”
She claimed the EFCC’s actions had damaged her reputation, disrupted her investments and placed her life, her children and her businesses at risk.
Properties Already Forfeited
Her allegations come after a series of court rulings against her.
On July 16, an FCT High Court in Apo granted a final forfeiture order transferring properties linked to Achimugu to the Federal Government. The assets include jewellery valued at over ₦4.6 billion, 11 luxury vehicles worth about ₦4.3 billion, $50,000, and ₦30 million in cash.
Earlier, in March, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to Achimugu and her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, after the EFCC argued the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency had also declared her wanted over alleged money laundering before arresting her at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on April 29, 2025.
‘EFCC Knew My Whereabouts’
Achimugu argued that the EFCC acted in bad faith by declaring her wanted despite allegedly maintaining communication with her through exchanged letters.
She further alleged that around 30 EFCC operatives raided her home shortly after she was declared wanted, confiscating jewellery, safes and personal funds while traumatising her family.
According to her, her elderly mother, who had recently undergone spine surgery abroad, was forced to remain seated for hours during the operation despite her health condition.
Dispute Over $13 Million
Achimugu maintained that the $13 million was part of a $20 million payment made by Oceangate to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for oil block payments.
She said documentary evidence had already been submitted to the NUPRC showing payments of $2 million and $5 million for petroleum prospecting licences, but alleged the EFCC continued to portray the transactions as suspicious.
She also disclosed that she has appealed the forfeiture order and is awaiting the court’s decision.
Second Raid And Visa Revocation Claim
The businesswoman alleged that EFCC operatives returned to her residence on January 20, 2026, removing vehicles with cranes and flatbed trucks while litigation over previously seized assets was still pending.
She also claimed the agency’s actions contributed to the revocation of her United States visa, preventing her from attending a Harvard executive programme. According to her, she later discovered she could not obtain another visa using her Grenadian passport until issues with Nigerian authorities were resolved.
‘I Am Not A Criminal’
Achimugu insisted she has never been convicted of any offence and rejected suggestions that she is a criminal.
“I have never been known to be a troublemaker. I am not a criminal and I have never been convicted of any offence. I have never been confronted with any crime that I did not own up to,” she said.
The EFCC has not publicly responded to Achimugu’s latest allegations. The agency has consistently maintained that the forfeiture proceedings followed court orders obtained during its investigation into alleged financial crimes.
