The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum has condemned the declaration of businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, as wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
EFCC Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, published this on the official social media handles of the commission on Friday.
But reacting to the declaration, the Arewa youths, in a statement from Mallam Yusuf, described the EFCC’s action as persecution of the 51-year-old indigene of Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, whose last known address is listed as 6C, Rudolf Close, Maitama, Abuja.
“The Arewa youths and other well-meaning Nigerians woke up to the declaration of our sister from Kogi State, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, as wanted by the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, saying Aisha is a successful businesswoman who has kept a record of transparency and a clean business history.
“A circular released by the EFCC Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and published on the official social media handles of the commission said: ‘The public is hereby notified that Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.’
“We condemn this declaration in its entirety and make bold to say that this is nothing short of the persecution of the socialite and successful businesswoman, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, who has used her wealth to empower women and youths across Nigeria.
“We don’t want to believe this disparaging act is not unconnected to false reports in a section of the media that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through Aisha Achimugu, made available funds to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“Atiku has since dismissed claims that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu contributed funds to his campaign during the last presidential election via a statement issued by his spokesman, Paul Ibe, titled ‘Halt This Tinubu’s Voyage of Misadventure and Campaign of Calumny Against Atiku Abubakar,’ in which he refuted reports suggesting that Sanwo-Olu, through Aisha Achimugu, provided the former VP with money allegedly belonging to Lagos State.”
The youths condemned the attempt to smear Aisha with fabricated, non-existent allegations from forces scared of her rising business profile while also calling on the EFCC to immediately drop her name from the wanted list and apologize to the successful businesswoman and philanthropist.
