- Safiu Kehinde
Aisha Achimugu, Nigerian businesswoman declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been arrested following her return to the country.
NPO Reported that Achimugu was last month declared wanted over alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
This had occurred few hours after the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, cried out over alleged plot by President Bola Tinubu to implicate him and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
While Achimugu, an ally to Sanwo-Olu, had since claimed that her business never violated any rule to attract the EFCC’s summon, a Federal High Court yesterday ordered her to honour the commission’s invitation.
Barely hours after the court’s order, Achimugu was arrested around 5am on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja, and taken to custody following her arrival from London.
Achimugu was reportedly apprehended by EFCC operatives.
Confirming the businesswoman’s arrest, her lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, noted that she had since embarked on a hunger strike.
“She arrived voluntarily and was arrested by the EFCC. She has immediately gone on hunger strike,” Ojukwu stated.
The lawyer claimed Achimugu is a prisoner of conscience like South Africa’s former President, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar.
“Like Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, she is a prisoner of conscience. This phase will surely pass. Nigeria’s rule of law is at the precipice.” He added.
During the hearing of her case at the Abuja Federal High Court yesterday, Justice Ekwo, who ordered her to honour the EFCC’s invitation in a ruling, also ordered the commission to return with her to court on Wednesday for report upon her appearance of Achimugu at its office.
The development had followed an application by Achimugu’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, for an order to protect her client from being detained or harassed by the EFCC following her decision to honour the commission’s invitation for continuation of investigation.
However, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Delete Oyewale, is yet to confirm the arrest of Achimugu as inquired by NPO Reports correspondent as at the time of filing this report.