The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to release businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, within 24 hours.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order during a sitting on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. He said the EFCC must report back to the court on May 2 to confirm if they have obeyed the order.
Earlier in the week, the court had directed Achimugu to appear before the EFCC in connection with an ongoing investigation involving money laundering and other serious offences. After she reported to the commission, she was arrested at around 5am on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
EFCC is investigating Achimugu over allegations of criminal conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, and illegal possession of assets. The agency claimed she failed to respect an earlier bail and declared her wanted in March.
In a public notice, EFCC said, “Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.”
According to EFCC’s documents presented in court, Achimugu was earlier arrested on February 12, 2024. She made a statement in the presence of her lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, explaining the movement of large funds through her company’s bank accounts.
The EFCC claimed that Achimugu admitted receiving over ₦8.7 billion from business partners. The money was allegedly used to buy two oil blocks — PPL 3007 (Shallow Water) and PPL 302-DO (Deep Offshore) — through her company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited. The agency added that most payments were made in cash through Bureau De Change operators.
They further stated that the $25.3 million used to buy the oil blocks could not be traced to any legal business income. The EFCC also accused her of bribing officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission during the process.
The anti-graft agency told the court that the oil blocks had not started production since they were acquired and that Achimugu was operating 136 bank accounts across 10 banks.
Angered by her declaration as a wanted person, Achimugu filed a suit against the EFCC, Nigeria Police, ICPC, DSS, NSCDC, and Immigration Service. In her court documents, she said the move was aimed at damaging her name and causing her public embarrassment.
Her lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, told the court that the arrest was unjust and that the security agencies had failed to honour court orders. The judge had earlier given them a final chance to respond.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the judge ruled, “The third respondent (EFCC) has granted the applicant bail. The court now orders that the third respondent must release the applicant within 24 hours of this order.”
Justice Ekwo also said the EFCC must return to court on May 2 to report its compliance, and the case will continue the same day.
