The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed reports linking its ongoing investigation of Ms Aisha Achimugu to political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The EFCC had earlier declared the businesswoman and socialite wanted in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
In a statement on Friday, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, clarified that Achimugu is being investigated solely for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering, with no connection to any political bigwig in the country.
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, wishes to react to media reports linking its investigations of Ms Aisha Achimugu with political undercurrents involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the investigations of Achimugu have no correlation of any kind with the two political actors. She is being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering and has since been declared wanted by the Commission.”
Oyewale stated that the commission started investigating her in 2022, but she got a court order which stopped the EFCC from investigating her until recently.
He said, “The EFCC commenced investigation of Achimugu in 2022, and though she approached the court to obtain an injunction restraining the Commission from arresting, investigating, inviting or detaining her for any alleged criminal act, the injunction was challenged and vacated on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.”
Oyewale mentioned that the court also upheld the interim forfeiture of assets suspected to be proceeds of crime and dismissed Achimugu’s legal challenge as lacking merit.
“We enjoin the public to continue to keep faith with the professionalism of the Commission without imputing any extraneous consideration to its work,” the statement added.
