The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested popular businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to the PUNCH, she was picked up by EFCC officials around 5am on Tuesday, shortly after arriving from London.
Achimugu was declared wanted in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, led by Justice I.E. Ekwo, had on Monday ordered Achimugu to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday, April 29, and to also appear in court the next day, Wednesday, April 30.
Her lawyer, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed the arrest in a message to *The PUNCH*. He said Achimugu returned to Nigeria voluntarily to obey the court’s order but was arrested immediately on arrival.
“In light of what transpired in court on Monday, my client returned based on the undertaking before the court to honour the EFCC’s invitation, but was arrested at the airport,” Ojukwu said.
He criticised the EFCC for disobeying the court’s directive, adding that Achimugu had now started a hunger strike in protest.
“She is a prisoner of conscience,” the lawyer said.
A source at the EFCC, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak statd that the arrest was necessary.
“We had earlier declared her wanted and we can’t allow her to continue to walk freely,” the source said. “The court said she must appear before us today. It didn’t stop us from arresting her. It only said she should not be detained if she comes. But how are you sure she would appear? Now that we have seen her, we must make sure she shows up.”
As of the time this report was filed, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, had not responded to calls or messages on the matter.
