Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Nigerian businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Achimugu was picked up around 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, shortly after returning from London. A top EFCC official confirmed her arrest in a phone call.
She was declared wanted in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and obtaining money by false pretence. Her arrest came a day after Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered her to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday and again in court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the order followed a suit Achimugu filed against multiple security agencies, including the EFCC, Nigeria Police Force, ICPC, DSS, NSCDC, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
In its counter-affidavit, EFCC investigator Chris Odofin stated that Achimugu was being probed for multiple offences, including corruption, money laundering, and illegal property acquisition. She initially responded to an EFCC invitation in February and was granted administrative bail, but allegedly failed to report as agreed and instead filed a rights enforcement suit.
Achimugu allegedly explained to investigators that N8.71 billion entered her company’s accounts as an “investment fund” for an oil block acquisition. She claimed the funds were transferred to the Federal Government via her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, and backed it with documents from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
However, the EFCC said its probe found that her company acquired two oil blocks — PPL 3007 (Shallow Water) and PPL 302-DO (Deep Offshore) — at a total cost of $25.3 million, allegedly paid in cash through bureau de change operators. The origin of the funds could not be traced to any legitimate business dealings, the commission said.
Furthermore, the EFCC alleged that the acquisition process was marred by corruption, and that as of the time of the investigation, no exploration or production had begun on either oil block.
The commission described Achimugu’s legal suit as a deliberate attempt to obstruct its investigation, citing a prior court ruling that had already dismissed her claims of rights violations.
