Businesswoman Aisha Achimugu was taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) early Tuesday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, shortly after arriving from London.
Sources confirmed that the arrest occurred around 5 a.m. In March, Achimugu had previously been declared wanted by the EFCC over allegations involving criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
A day earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo, ordered that Achimugu appear before the EFCC on Tuesday and also mandated her presence in court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Her legal counsel, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed the arrest, stating that his client returned to Nigeria voluntarily in compliance with the court’s directive, only to be detained by EFCC officials at the airport.
Ojukwu condemned the arrest, arguing it contradicted the court’s instruction, which he interpreted as protecting his client from being detained upon her return.
“In accordance with the agreement made in court, she came back to honour the EFCC’s invitation. Despite this, she was apprehended at the airport,” Ojukwu said, adding that Achimugu had begun a hunger strike in protest, describing her as “a prisoner of conscience.”
An EFCC official, who asked not to be named, also confirmed the arrest. He emphasised that the agency had the right to take her into custody since she had previously been declared wanted.
“She had been on our wanted list, and the court’s instruction did not prevent us from arresting her—it only stated she shouldn’t be detained if she voluntarily appeared. Arresting her at the airport was a precaution, as there was no guarantee she would report to us,” the source said.
As of the time of this report, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had not responded to calls or messages requesting comment.
