Abdulazeez Abdulwahab
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) says linking its investigations of Ms. Aisha Achimugu with political undercurrents involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is unfounded.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the investigations of Achimugu have no correlation of any kind with the two political actors. She is being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering and has since been declared Wanted by the Commission”.
The anti-graft agency says it commenced investigation of Achimugu in 2022 and though she approached the court to obtain an injunction restraining the Commission from arresting, investigating, inviting or detaining her for any alleged criminal act, the injunction was challenged and vacated on Wednesday, 19 February 2025 by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
According to the EFCC, The court ruled that “…no court has the power to stop the investigative powers of the Police or EFCC or any agency established under our laws to investigate crimes when there is reasonable suspicion of commission of a crime or ample evidence of commission of an offence by a suspect”.
The EFCC stated that the court further upheld the interim order of forfeiture of assets of Achimugu suspected to be proceeds of crime, dismissing her suit against it as lacking merit.
“The foregoing clearly establishes that the EFCC’s case against her has no immediate or remote nexus with any politician or any veiled or open reference to any political engagement or transaction.”
The EFCC says it is non-partisan and non-sectarian. “We enjoin the public to continue to keep faith with the professionalism of the Commission without inputting any extraneous consideration to its works”.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that EFCC) yesterday 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 and Publicity of EFCC stated
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.
Eighteen-Eleven Media