A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu within 24 hours.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, during a brief court session. He also directed the EFCC to report back to the court on May 2 to confirm they have followed the order.
Earlier in the week, the court had told Achimugu to appear before the EFCC for questioning over allegations of money laundering and other financial crimes. Following her appearance, the EFCC was expected to bring her back to court for a progress report.
However, Achimugu was arrested by EFCC operatives at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The EFCC had declared her wanted after claiming she jumped bail.
“The public is hereby notified that AISHA SULAIMAN ACHIMUGU is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering,” the EFCC stated earlier.
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According to court documents, EFCC accused Achimugu of obtaining money by false pretence, laundering funds, and owning suspicious properties. The agency said that during her earlier arrest in February, she admitted that N8.7 billion was paid into her company’s account by partners as investment for oil bloc deals.
The EFCC further said Achimugu, through her company Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, bought two oil blocs, Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO, for $25.3 million. Most of the payment was reportedly made in cash to Bureau De Change operators, who then paid the Federal Government.
Investigators claimed the money used could not be traced to any legal business or income, and that bribes were paid to officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission during the oil bloc acquisition process.
The EFCC also revealed that Achimugu controls 136 bank accounts across 10 banks, in both her name and her company’s name.
Justice Ekwo made it clear that EFCC must follow the rule of law. He said all parties involved should appear before the court on May 2 to give a full report on whether his orders have been followed.