Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Court orders EFCC to release socialite Aisha Achimugu within 24 hours

 


A Federal High court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to grant Aisha Achimugu administrative bail and ensure her release within 24 hours.

In a brief ruling on Wednesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo also ordered parties in the suit to report on compliance with the order  on May 2, 2025.

Achimugu, the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 5 a.m. on Tuesday after arriving Nigeria from London.

The anti-graft agency had declared the businesswoman and socialite wanted for alleged money laundering on March 28.

Achimugu had on October 3, through her lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, filed a fundamental rights suit callenging the arrest warrant issued against her by EFCC.

She described the arrest warrant as “unwarranted, unjustifiable, devoid of probable cause, and designed to humiliate her.”

She prayed the court for “an interim injunction to stop the agencies from arresting or harassing her, invading her property, or infringing on her rights to liberty, privacy, and freedom of movement.”

On Monday, the Federal High Court ordered Achimugu to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday for interrogation over money laundering allegations

Although Ogunwumiju told the court that his client had notified the commission of her intending return, Achimugu was arrested at the airport on Tuesday.

EFCC presented Achimugu at the resumed hearing of the fundamental right suit on Wednesday.

Ekwo then ordered EFCC to finalise the applicant’s administrative bail and release her.

EFCC is yet to file a criminal charge against the socialite.




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