Aisha Achimugu was taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, shortly after arriving in Nigeria from London. A senior EFCC official confirmed the arrest to Channels Television.
Achimugu had previously been declared wanted by the EFCC in March over allegations involving money laundering and criminal conspiracy. Her lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), confirmed the arrest, stating that his client returned voluntarily to comply with an earlier court directive, but was detained at the airport. He criticized the EFCC’s action, calling it a violation of her rights, and revealed that she had started a hunger strike in protest. “She is a prisoner of conscience,” he said.
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EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had not officially commented on the arrest at the time of the report.
The arrest followed a court order issued a day earlier by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, requiring Achimugu to present herself to the EFCC on Tuesday and appear before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
The order came during proceedings related to a lawsuit Achimugu filed against various security agencies, including the EFCC, DSS, ICPC, Police, NSCDC, and the Nigeria Immigration Service. In response, EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho submitted a counter-affidavit from EFCC investigator Chris Odofin, detailing the case against her.
According to the affidavit, Achimugu is being investigated for alleged involvement in fraud, money laundering, and illegal property acquisition. She had initially honored an EFCC invitation in February and was released on bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington Ozurumba, but allegedly failed to meet subsequent obligations and instead filed a lawsuit claiming her rights were violated.
In her written statement, Achimugu said over N8.7 billion was deposited into her company’s accounts as part of an investment to secure an oil block, which she claimed was transferred to a federal account via her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, referencing NUPRC documents.
However, EFCC investigations revealed that the company actually purchased two oil blocks—Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO—for $25.3 million, with payments allegedly made in cash through bureau de change operators. The origin of the funds, according to the EFCC, could not be linked to any legal source or business venture. Furthermore, the commission alleged that the oil blocks had not been developed and that the acquisition was tainted by corruption.
The EFCC stated that Achimugu’s legal actions were a deliberate effort to hinder the investigation, noting that a previous court ruling (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024) had already dismissed her claims of rights violations.
