Aisha Achimugu, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group, was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) upon her arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at approximately 5 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The arrest followed her return from London, where she had been residing.
Achimugu had been declared wanted by the EFCC in March 2025 on allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Her legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed the arrest, stating that Achimugu had voluntarily returned to Nigeria to comply with a court order requiring her appearance before the EFCC and the Federal High Court.
Ojukwu criticized the arrest as a violation of the court’s directive and an infringement on Achimugu’s fundamental rights. He further disclosed that Achimugu had commenced a hunger strike in protest of what he termed a breach of her rights, labeling her a “prisoner of conscience.”
The EFCC has not yet issued an official statement regarding the arrest. However, a spokesperson for the commission, Dele Oyewale, had previously confirmed that a court had ordered Achimugu to appear before the EFCC on April 29 and before the court on April 30, 2025, in connection with a lawsuit she filed against several law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC.
According to an affidavit submitted by EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho, Achimugu is under investigation for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering, corruption, and possession of property suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.
The affidavit further alleges that Achimugu’s company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, received N8.71 billion in its corporate bank accounts, which she claimed was an “investment fund” for acquiring an oil block. Investigations suggest that the funds were transferred to the Federal Government’s account through her company, referencing documentation from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
However, further inquiry revealed that the company acquired two oil blocks at a cost of $25.3 million, with payments allegedly made in cash via bureau de change operators, and the sources of the funds could not be traced to any legitimate business income or partnerships.
The EFCC contends that Achimugu’s current legal actions are an attempt to obstruct the ongoing investigation, despite a previous court ruling dismissing her claim of fundamental rights violations.
The arrest has drawn attention from various media outlets, with some highlighting the legal and procedural aspects of the case, while others focus on the broader implications for anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.
As the situation develops, it remains a significant point of discussion regarding the balance between legal procedures and the protection of individual rights in the country’s fight against financial crimes.
