Aisha Achimugu, a prominent businesswoman, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja early on Tuesday. The arrest occurred around 5 a.m. following her return from London.
Achimugu had been declared a fugitive in March due to accusations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. On Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, under the direction of Justice I.E. Ekwo, issued an order for her to report to the EFCC on Tuesday and appear in court again on April 30, 2025.
Her lawyer, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed the arrest and criticized the EFCC’s actions, claiming they violated a court order. Ojukwu explained that Achimugu returned to Nigeria willingly, adhering to the court’s instruction to honor the EFCC’s invitation, but was arrested upon arrival.
Ojukwu also revealed that Achimugu had started a hunger strike in protest, labeling her detention as a violation of her basic rights. He referred to her as a “prisoner of conscience.”
An unnamed EFCC official defended the arrest, explaining that Achimugu had been on the wanted list and that the commission could not allow her to remain free. The source further clarified that although the court had instructed her to appear, it did not prevent the EFCC from detaining her to ensure her compliance.
At the time of this report, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had not responded to inquiries for further comment.
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