Just In: Federal High Court Orders EFCC to Release Aisha Achimugu Within 24 Hours

In a fresh twist to the ongoing legal battle, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release popular businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, within 24 hours.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the brief court hearing on Wednesday, issued the directive after reviewing the matter. The judge also instructed the EFCC and other parties involved to return to court on May 2, 2025, to confirm that the order has been followed.

Aisha Achimugu is currently under investigation by the EFCC for alleged involvement in financial crimes, including money laundering and conspiracy.

These allegations stem from her business activities, especially those linked to her company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited.

She was taken into custody on Tuesday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, just one day before the court ruling. Her arrest followed an earlier court order requiring her to report to the EFCC over the ongoing probe.

The Aisha Achimugu EFCC case has drawn wide attention due to the large sums of money involved. The EFCC claims that over N8.7 billion passed through her company’s bank accounts.

Part of these funds were allegedly used to acquire oil blocks, raising questions about the source of the money.

According to the EFCC, Achimugu purchased two oil blocks—Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO—valued at a total of $25.3 million. The Commission insists the funds used did not come from any legal or traceable business income.

In its court affidavit, the EFCC alleged that the process of acquiring these oil blocks involved bribing top officials from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: EFCC Arrests Wanted Socialite Aisha Achimugu At Abuja AIrport

Despite securing these licenses, neither of the oil blocks has reportedly been used for oil exploration or production.

This is not the first time Aisha Achimugu has faced the EFCC. She was earlier arrested and later released on administrative bail.

However, the EFCC claimed that she violated the conditions of her bail. Following this, she was declared wanted, and the agency urged the public to assist in tracking her down.

As part of their investigation, the EFCC revealed that Achimugu operates an astonishing 136 bank accounts across ten different Nigerian banks. These accounts are reportedly in both her personal name and those of her companies, which, according to the agency, adds more complexity to the case.

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