A federal high court in Abuja has ordered oil executive Aisha Achimugu to appear before Nigeria’s anti-fraud agency regarding money laundering allegations.
Judge Inyang Ekwo directed Achimugu, the managing director and CEO of Felak Concept Group, to meet with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday following a court hearing on Monday.
Achimugu had filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent security agencies from arresting her after the EFCC declared her wanted in late March. Her lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, told the court she was willing to cooperate with investigators and would attend the EFCC interview on 29 April.
“We will be asking for an order to restrain the respondents from further harassing her,” Ogunwumiju said during the proceedings. “We want the court to give an order to protect her. And we urge the court to consider that she is coming with her son, who has a special need.”
The EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, countered that Achimugu had violated previous bail conditions and failed to respond to earlier invitations.
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“We have invited the applicant, and she refused to come. We wrote to her to come, and she refused to come,” he stated.
After hearing both sides, Judge Ekwo ordered Achimugu to report to the EFCC office on Tuesday and directed the agency to bring her to court on Wednesday.
According to court documents, the EFCC is investigating Achimugu for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption, and possessing property suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.
EFCC investigator Chris Odofin claimed Achimugu had initially complied with an EFCC summons on 12 February 2024, provided a statement, and received administrative bail. However, instead of returning as required, she filed a legal challenge against the agency.
The investigation centres on N8.71 billion that flowed into Achimugu’s corporate accounts, which she reportedly claimed was an “investment fund” for acquiring oil blocks. The EFCC alleges her company purchased two oil blocks for $25.3 million, with payments made through currency exchange operators from untraceable sources.
The anti-fraud agency further alleges that the acquisition process involved corruption and that neither oil block had begun operations when investigated.
The case will continue on Wednesday when the court expects Achimugu to appear following her meeting with the EFCC.
