THE Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, within 24 hours.
Delivering a brief ruling on Wednesday, April 30, Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, directed all parties, particularly the EFCC, to appear before the court on May 2, to report on compliance with the order.
The EFCC arrested Achimugu on April 29 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. She was apprehended while returning to Nigeria from London.
Achimugu had been declared wanted by the EFCC in March, facing allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
The invitation letter, dated March 4 and signed by the EFCC’s Acting Zonal Director in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Adebayo Adeniyi, was sent to Achimugu’s residential address in Abuja.
However, instead of reporting to the EFCC, she travelled out of Nigeria. As a result, the EFCC obtained an arrest warrant to declare her wanted, reported Premium Times.
Her lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed the arrest, stating that Achimugu voluntarily returned to Nigeria to honour the EFCC’s invitation, only to be detained by the agency.
The lawyer criticised the EFCC for what he called a violation of a court order and reported that Achimugu had since begun a hunger strike in protest.
Achimugu is a Nigerian businesswoman who serves as the managing director and chief executive officer of Felak Concept Group, specialising in various engineering fields and offering services like consultancy, maritime operations, and waste management.
Notably, she’s the first female consultant for the development of a deep-sea port in South-South Nigeria.
She’s a mother of three and made headlines with her lavish 50th birthday celebration in Grenada, reportedly attended by prominent figures, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
On Friday, March 21, Achimugu’s media aide, David Abakpa, said she was not under investigation by the EFCC and insisted that she had no issues with the anti-graft agency.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M