The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday morning arrested prominent businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Achimugu, who had been declared wanted since March 2025 over alleged money laundering and criminal conspiracy, was taken into custody around 5 a.m. shortly after arriving from London.
The arrest follows a Monday order by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, which directed her to present herself before both the EFCC on Tuesday and the court on April 30, 2025.
The Ensuing Legal Battle Over Airport Arrest
Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, Achimugu’s legal counsel, confirmed the arrest while condemning the anti-graft agency’s actions as a violation of court directives.
“My client returned voluntarily to honor the EFCC invitation based on our court undertaking, only to be arrested at the airport,” Ojukwu stated. The senior advocate revealed his client has begun a hunger strike to protest what he termed a gross violation of her fundamental human rights. This development heightens an already tense standoff between Achimugu’s legal team and Nigeria’s premier anti-corruption agency.
An anonymous EFCC official justified the arrest, telling our correspondent: “We declared her wanted and couldn’t risk her disappearing again. While the court prohibited detention, it didn’t restrict arrest.” The source emphasized the commission’s duty to ensure compliance with the court’s appearance order. The arrest comes weeks after the EFCC’s nationwide manhunt for Achimugu, with investigators alleging complex financial crimes involving multiple bank accounts and corporate entities.
What Happens Now
With Achimugu now in EFCC custody, all eyes turn to Wednesday’s scheduled court appearance before Justice Ekwo. Legal reps have said the hearing could become a landmark case testing the boundaries of arrest powers versus defendants’ rights in high-profile financial crime investigations. As of press time, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had not responded to requests for official comment on the detention conditions or the hunger strike claims.
