THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today declared Aisha Achimugu, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman, wanted.
According to the anti-graft agency, the businesswoman is wanted in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
The statement from the EFCC reads:
“The public is hereby notified that AISHA SULAIMAN ACHIMUGU, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy and Money Laundering.
“Achimugu, 51, is an indigene of Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State and her last known address is: 6C, Rudolf Close, Maitama, Abuja.
“Anybody with useful information as to her whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: info@efcc.gov.ng or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies,” the notice signed by Dele Oyewale -Head, Media & Publicity of EFCC,
It was however gathered that Achimugu was declared wanted following an allegation that she was the conduit through which campaign funds allegedly from the Lagos State governor got transmitted to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election.
However, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, through his media aide, Paul Ibe, denied ever receiving any funds from Mr Sanwo-Olu before, during or after the campaign.
In the statement titled “Halt This Tinubu’s Voyage of Misadventure and Campaign of Calumny Against Atiku Abubakar”, the Adamawa State-born politician said:
“We at Atiku Media Office have taken note of reports in a section of the media that the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu through Ms Aisha Achimugu made available to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007 money purportedly belonging to Lagos State. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also credited with investigating the matter.
“Let it be known, that this is a blatant lie from the pit of hell; a contrived political hogwash, and a futile campaign of calumny aimed at advancing the political interests of President Bola A. Tinubu.
“It may interest Nigerians to note that the Waziri of Adamawa does not know Goverbir Sanwo-Olu and indeed has never met him before.
“This piece of kindergarten propaganda is beneath the camp of Tinubu. How is it possible for an Atiku who does not know and has no connection with Sanwo-Olu to be having a transaction with him involving the exchange of money – let alone during the Presidential election of 2023 in which his boss was a contestant? To what end would that be?” the statement read.
The statement added that Governor Sanwo-Olu is out of favour with some political power brokers and that the allegation against Atiku is part of an agenda to discredit the Lagos State governor and downplay the coalition movement being put together by Atiku.
“We wish to, therefore, state emphatically and for the record that it is a political hatchet job aimed at providing a much-needed justification to jettison Governor Sanwo-Olu, who appears to have fallen out of favour with the “Bourdillon Cult.”
“Indeed, their strategy is two-fold: get rid of Sanwo-Olu and to discredit the coalition being put together by the opposition political leaders, of which Atiku Abubakar is a key stakeholder.
“To even underscore how poor the propaganda is, an unnamed Sanwo-Olu’s aide is quoted in the news story trashing his principal and adding fuel to the fire. Pray, who does that?” the statement added.
Aisha Achimugu is the managing director and chief executive officer of Felak Concept Group, a company specialising in civil, structural, and transportation engineering.
Over the years, the group has expanded its services to include consultancy and transaction advisory services, maritime operations, and environmental waste management, serving both private and public sector clients.
As the leader of the group, Achimugu oversees multiple subsidiaries and plays a key role in major infrastructure projects. She is notably the first female consultant and transaction advisor for the development of a Deep Sea Port in South-South Nigeria, a project handled through Felak Concept Limited.
Born on 22 January 1974 to Capt. J.E.A. and Mrs. Adole (Rtd.), Achimugu had her early education at the Federal Government Girls Science School in Kuje, Abuja.
She later obtained a B.Sc. in Accountancy from the University of Jos in 1998 and received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Commonwealth University, Belize.
She was married to Sulaiman Achimugu, a former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), which used to be a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. He passed away in 2020.
Achimugu, who is a mother of three, made headlines last year when she hosted a lavish 50th birthday celebration in Grenada. The event was attended by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries. The event fueled speculation about a close relationship between her and the governor.
Eighteen-Eleven Media