Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered Aisha Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to respond to questions related to an ongoing investigation
The judge further directed that Achimugu must also appear before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
The ruling was delivered on Monday, April 28, 2025, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, 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).
Responding to Achimugu’s application, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, presented a counter-affidavit sworn by one of the Commission’s investigators, Chris Odofin, detailing the circumstances surrounding her invitation.
In the affidavit, Odofin stated 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 initially honoured the Commission’s invitation on February 12, 2024, during which she made a written statement and was granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba. However, she allegedly failed to report back as agreed and instead filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC.
According to the affidavit, Achimugu explained the inflow of N8.71 billion into her corporate bank accounts as “investment funds” intended for the acquisition of an oil block. She claimed the funds were transferred to the Federal Government’s account via her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, referencing documentation from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
However, further investigation revealed that Oceangate Engineering acquired two oil blocks—Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO—at a total cost of $25.3 million. The payments were allegedly made in cash through bureau de change operators, and investigators could not trace the sources of the funds to any legitimate business activities or partnerships. The EFCC also alleged that the acquisition process was tainted by corruption.
Despite the acquisition, neither oil block had commenced exploration or production as of the time of investigation.
The EFCC described Achimugu’s current lawsuit as a deliberate attempt to obstruct the ongoing investigation, noting that a previous court ruling in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024 had dismissed her earlier claims of fundamental rights violations.
Following the dismissal of her earlier suit, the EFCC intensified its investigations by issuing inquiry letters to various banks, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), land authorities, the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). As responses were received, the Commission analyzed the information while awaiting additional replies.
The affidavit also revealed that Achimugu operates a total of 136 bank accounts across ten different banks, both in her personal and corporate names.
The case is scheduled to continue on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, with Achimugu expected to report to the EFCC the previous day, as directed by the court.
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