The authorized workforce of Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, a outstanding enterprise government and socialite, knowledgeable the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja on Monday that their shopper had already acknowledged in her courtroom paperwork that she would go to the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) in reference to its ongoing investigation.
Achimugu’s legal professionals, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, and Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, made this recognized earlier than Justice Inyang Ekwo throughout a basic human rights enforcement go well with filed towards the Nigeria Police Power, Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee, State Safety Service, EFCC, Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigerian Immigration Service.
Nairametrics beforehand reported that Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, launched an announcement urging the general public to supply details about Achimugu’s whereabouts.
“The general public is hereby notified that AISHA SULAIMAN ACHIMUGU is needed by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) in an alleged case of prison conspiracy and cash laundering,” the assertion learn.
The EFCC is investigating a case involving conspiracy, acquiring cash by false pretence, cash laundering, corruption, and possession of properties fairly suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
The multi-million naira case allegedly entails MBA Buying and selling and Capital Restricted, the applicant, amongst others.
Recall that the trial courtroom, in response to Achimugu’s go well with marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, had on April 11 ordered the EFCC and 5 different safety companies to file their responses to her go well with, which seeks to restrain her deliberate arrest and detention.
What Transpired in Courtroom
On the Monday courtroom session, Ogunwumiju stated the matter was adjourned to permit the respondents to indicate trigger why the reliefs sought by his shopper shouldn’t be granted.
- He added that, sadly, the applicant was solely served with the respondents’ counter-affidavits on Friday night, together with purposes for an extension of time.
- Ogunwumiju highlighted that within the affidavit supporting the originating processes, the applicant indicated that she “will attend her interview earlier than the EFCC tomorrow, twenty ninth April 2025,” and that she has expressed her willingness to cooperate with the investigation, opposite to the assertions of the EFCC.
- He additional submitted that with respect to the EFCC’s invitation, the applicant already enjoys bail and the Courtroom can order that she return the subsequent day and proceed on the identical bail situations.
“We shall be asking for an order to restrain the respondents from additional harassing her,” he submitted.
EFCC counsel Ekene Iheanacho responded that the Courtroom had given judgment on February 19, 2025, setting apart an earlier utility made by the identical applicant for enforcement of her rights.
- The choose responded, “We’re not discussing the substantive matter now. What they’re is so that you can present trigger why the applying she has prayed within the Movement Ex-Parte ought to not be granted.“
- The choose additional stated he noticed no controversy if the applicant had acknowledged she would seem on the EFCC on a selected date, including, “Until, you’re denying this averment.”
- Iheanacho affirmed that the applicant is on administrative bail however alleged that she had violated the situations.
“We invited the applicant, and she or he refused to return. We wrote to her once more, and she or he nonetheless refused to return,” he stated.
Ruling
Ruling on the lawyer’s submissions, Justice Ekwo noticed that the EFCC’s counter-affidavit indicated Achimugu was already underneath investigation and had been granted administrative bail by the company.
- The choose famous that the EFCC claimed the bail had expired because of the applicant’s failure to honour their invitation.
“The EFCC requires the applicant to look earlier than them to help within the investigation, which is their constitutional obligation. I additionally see the applicant (Aisha Achimugu) expressing willingness to look, and due to this fact, I discover no controversy contemplating the applicant’s averment. None ought to be created,” Ekwo held.
- The choose then ordered that the applicant shall seem earlier than the EFCC on twenty ninth April 2025, as acknowledged in paragraph 61 of her affidavit in help of the movement ex parte and her connected displays.
- He additional ordered that upon her look, the EFCC should return with the applicant to courtroom on thirtieth April 2025 for a report of the looks of the Applicant.
What it is best to know
Achimugu, a widely known enterprise magnate, is the Group Managing Director and Chief Government Officer of Felak Idea Group, a consortium comprising a number of corporations in engineering, maritime, oil and gasoline, and knowledge expertise.
Because the investigation unfolds, the EFCC’s declaration indicators heightened scrutiny over monetary actions tied to Nigeria’s political panorama, significantly within the aftermath of the contentious 2023 elections.
Nevertheless, the allegations stay topic to a last verdict by the courtroom.
Be First to Comment