Court orders Aisha Achimugu to report to EFCC today, appear in court tomorrow
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A court has ordered Aisha Achimugu, a businesswoman, cash madam and socialite, to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today (April 29) for questioning and to appear in the court tomorrow over alleged fraud.
Achimugu rocked herself into national prominence last year with a lavish 50th birthday celebration on a Caribbean island, where dollars flowed like wine, an event graced by high-profile guests, including Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The EFCC declared her wanted some time ago over her refusal to honour the invitation of the graft burster.
Judge I. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja made the ruling on Monday in a suit Achimugu filed against several law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC (which arraigned her), the police. Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Hearing in the case is scheduled to continue on April 30 with Achimugu expected to report to the EFCC today as directed by the court.
In its response to her suit, EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho SAN, informed the court of a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Chris Odofin, outlining what led to her invitation.
The affidavit disclosed that
- Achimugu is under investigation for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption and possession of property reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.
- She initially honoured the invitation of the EFCC on 12 February 2024, during which she made a written statement and was granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington Ozurumba.
- She failed to report back as agreed, choosing instead to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the graft burster.
- 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).
- Investigation shows that Achimugu’s company actually acquired two oil blocks, Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO, for $25.3 million, the payments were 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.
Following the dismissal of the earlier suit, the EFCC said it continued its investigation by sending inquiry letters to various banks and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Inland Revenue Services, Land Authorities, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, and Central Bank of Nigeria to gather more evidence.
As more responses were received, the team analysed them while further responses are being awaited.
The affidavit disclosed that Achimugu operates a total 136 bank accounts across 10 different banks both in her personal and corporate names.
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