Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, a prominent Nigerian business executive and socialite, was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) early Tuesday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The arrest took place around 5 a.m., shortly after Achimugu voluntarily returned from London to Nigeria.
Achimugu had been declared wanted by the EFCC in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. Her return followed a Federal High Court order issued on Monday by Justice Inyang Ekwo, directing her to appear before the EFCC on April 29 and before the court on April 30, 2025, as part of ongoing investigations.
Her lawyer, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, criticized the EFCC’s actions, stating that Achimugu had arrived in the country specifically to honor the court’s directive and cooperate with the investigation. Ojukwu described her arrest at the airport as a violation of the court’s order and revealed that Achimugu had begun a hunger strike in protest, calling her a “prisoner of conscience”.
An EFCC source, speaking anonymously, defended the arrest, saying the agency was not restricted from taking Achimugu into custody and that ensuring her appearance was necessary given her previous wanted status. The source noted that while the court instructed she should not be detained if she appeared, the EFCC needed to guarantee her compliance with the investigation.
As of the time of this report, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had not issued an official statement regarding the arrest or the specifics of the allegations. Achimugu is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, April 30, as the legal proceedings continue.
