EFCC Nabs Aisha Achimugu Over Alleged Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested businesswoman Aisha Achimugu at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The arrest was made around 5 am on Tuesday, shortly after her return from London.

According to an EFCC staff member, who confirmed the development to Channels Television, Achimugu had been declared wanted in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

Her arrest comes a day after Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja ordered her to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday and before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the order was made in a ruling in respect of a suit filed by Achimugu against several law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, the Department of State Services, DSS, the EFCC, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

The EFCC’s investigation into Achimugu centers on alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, money laundering, corruption, and possession of property suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.

According to an affidavit deposed by EFCC investigator Chris Odofin, Achimugu’s company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, acquired two oil blocks, Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO, at a cost of $25.3 million.

The payments were allegedly made in cash via bureau de change operators, and the ultimate sources of the funds could not be traced to any legitimate business income or partnerships.

The EFCC also alleged that the acquisition process was fraught with corruption and that neither of the two oil blocks had commenced exploration or production as of the time of investigation.

Achimugu had initially honored the EFCC’s invitation on February 12, 2024, and made a written statement. She was subsequently granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba. However, she allegedly failed to report as agreed, choosing instead to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Commission.

The affidavit further revealed that Achimugu, in her statement, explained the inflow of N8.71 billion into her corporate bank accounts as an “investment fund” for the acquisition of an oil block.

She claimed the funds were transferred to the Federal Government’s account through her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, referencing documentation from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.

The EFCC stressed that Achimugu’s current suit is a calculated attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigation, despite a previous court decision in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024 dismissing her claim of fundamental rights violations.

The EFCC stressed that Achimugu’s current suit is a calculated attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigation, despite a previous court decision dismissing her claim of fundamental rights violations.