The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release socialite and businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, within 24 hours.
The court’s ruling, issued on Wednesday, came after Justice Inyang Ekwo considered the matter in a brief hearing.
Justice Ekwo also ordered that the EFCC and other parties involved in the case report back to the court on May 2, 2025, to confirm compliance with the order.
Earlier, Justice Ekwo had mandated Achimugu to report to the EFCC in connection with an ongoing investigation related to money laundering and other alleged crimes.
As a result, the businesswoman was arrested by the EFCC on Tuesday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The EFCC is investigating Achimugu for her involvement in several criminal activities, including conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, money laundering, and the possession of properties suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.
These allegations stem from her business dealings, notably involving Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, a company she operates.
In previous developments, Achimugu had been arrested and questioned by the EFCC, but she was released on administrative bail.
However, the commission later claimed she violated the conditions of her bail and subsequently declared her wanted.
A public statement was issued by the EFCC, urging citizens to report any information regarding her whereabouts.
As part of the investigation, the EFCC detailed Achimugu’s involvement in large financial transactions.
They allege that over N8.7 billion was transferred through her corporate bank accounts, with a portion of the funds used to purchase oil blocks.
The investigation also revealed that Achimugu acquired two oil blocks—Shallow Water-PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore-PPL 302-DO—for a total of $25.3 million, with the funds allegedly not originating from any legitimate business income.
Furthermore, the EFCC claims the acquisition process involved corrupt practices, including bribery of officials from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
The commission also noted that neither of the oil blocks assigned to Achimugu’s company has been utilized for exploration or production.
Additionally, the EFCC’s affidavit revealed that Achimugu operates 136 bank accounts across ten different banks, both in her personal and corporate names, further complicating the case.
