Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered Aisha Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today to answer questions regarding an ongoing investigation.
The judge also directed that she must appear before the court tomorrow. The order was made in a ruling delivered yesterday in respect of a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, filed by Achimugu against several law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), EFCC, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
In a response to Achimugu’s application, EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), informed the court of a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Chris Odofin, outlining the circumstances leading to her invitation.
In the affidavit, Odofin 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.
Achimugu had initially honoured the commission’s invitation on February 12, 2024, during which she made a written statement, and was subsequently granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba.
However, she allegedly failed to report back as agreed, choosing instead to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the anti-graft agency. 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).
Further investigation into the affidavit, however, indicated that Achimugu’s company actually acquired two oil blocks, Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO, at the cost of $25.3 million.
