JUST IN: Court Orders EFCC To Release Aisha Achimugu Within 24 Hours

By Onoja Baba

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release prominent businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, within 24 hours.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a brief ruling delivered on Wednesday, directed the EFCC to comply immediately and report back to the court on May 2, 2025, with an update on the status of her release.

The development follows days of legal fireworks after Achimugu was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency and subsequently arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The EFCC is investigating Achimugu in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, obtaining money under false pretence, and possession of properties suspected to have been acquired through corrupt means.

According to court documents and EFCC filings, the commission alleged that Achimugu had previously been arrested on February 12, 2024, during which she provided a statement in the presence of her lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba.

In that statement, Achimugu reportedly acknowledged that over ₦8.7 billion was paid by her partners as an investment for the acquisition of oil blocs through her company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited.

EFCC investigations further revealed that two oil blocs, Shallow Water-PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore-PPL 302-DO, were acquired for $25.3 million. The payments, largely made through Bureau De Change operators, were alleged to have no verifiable ties to Achimugu’s legal income or business dealings.

The commission also accused her of offering bribes to officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission during the oil bloc allocation process.

Despite these allegations, Achimugu was initially granted administrative bail. However, EFCC claimed she jumped bail and subsequently declared her wanted on March 28. The agency called on the public to assist with information about her whereabouts.

Reacting to the declaration, Achimugu filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit against several agencies, including the EFCC, Nigeria Police Force, ICPC, DSS, NSCDC, and Nigerian Immigration Service.

In the suit, she sought an interim injunction to prevent her arrest and the invasion of her properties, describing the EFCC’s actions as unlawful, damaging to her reputation, and an abuse of her fundamental rights.

Her legal counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, argued that the declaration was baseless and designed to humiliate her. The court, earlier in April, scheduled the rights enforcement suit for hearing and instructed all respondents to appear and show cause.

At Wednesday’s resumed hearing, Ogunwumiju informed the court that the EFCC had arrested Achimugu and detained her despite her willingness to cooperate with the investigation.

Justice Ekwo ruled that the commission must release her within 24 hours, stating, “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.”

The judge also directed all parties, particularly the EFCC, to appear in court on May 2, 2025, with a report on compliance. The matter was adjourned to the same date for further hearing.