https://www.thecable.ng/money-laundering-court-orders-aisha-achimugu-to-honour-efcc-invitation/

The federal high court in Abuja has ordered Aisha Achimugu, the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group, to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged money laundering case on Tuesday.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, issued the order on Monday following a suit filed by Achimugu, seeking an interim injunction to prevent security agencies from arresting or harassing her.

Achimugu, in the suit filed on April 3, asked the court to nullify her declaration as wanted by the EFCC on March 28, calling it “unwarranted, unjustifiable, devoid of probable cause,” designed to humiliate her.

The security agencies listed in the fundamental rights enforcement are the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

On April 11, the court asked the security agencies to file their defence in the suit instituted by Achimugu.

MONDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

When the case was called on Monday, EFCC, DSS, ICPC, and NIS were represented in court.

Kehinde Ogunwumiju, counsel to Achimugu, told the court that the case was scheduled for the security agencies to show cause why the restraining order should be granted.

Ogunwumiju informed the court that the respondents, excluding the police, NIS, and NSCDC, served his team with their counter-affidavits and applications for an extension of time during the closing hours of last Friday.

The lawyer said in the affidavit in support of the originating processes that his client had indicated she would return to Nigeria and attend her interview before the anti-graft agency on April 29.

The counsel said his client had indicated her willingness to cooperate with the investigators.

He prayed that the court should order her client to report to the anti-graft agency and continue on the same bail conditions earlier given by the EFCC.

“We will be asking for an order to restrain the respondents from further harassing her,” the lawyer said.

“I refer the court to Paragraph 52 of the counter-affidavit by the 4th respondent (EFCC).

“This indicates that she enjoys bail. We want the court to give an order to protect her. We urge the court to consider that she is coming with her son, who has a special need.”

Countering the comment of Achimugu’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, counsel to the EFCC, said the court had earlier given a judgment in a similar matter filed by Achimugu on February 19, setting aside the application made by her for the enforcement of her right.

However, the presiding judge ordered Iheanacho to focus on the ex parte application filed by Achimugu in which security agencies were asked to show cause why the restraining order should not be granted.

Responding, the EFCC lawyer argued that Achimugu’s application was speculative because her rights had never been breached.

The EFCC lawyer further argued that Achimugu violated the administrative bail conditions earlier given to her by the anti-graft agency.

“We have invited the applicant, and she refused to come. We wrote to her to come, and she refused to come,” he added.

The judge responded that the present case is that Achimugu will honour the EFCC invitation, which means that she has surrendered.

The EFCC lawyer replied that the ex parte application before the court is unnecessary.

Ogunwumiju then requested that the court adjourn to Wednesday so that if his client is allowed to continue on bail, the suit would be withdrawn.

After listening to the arguments, Ekwo ordered Achimugu to appear at the EFCC’s office on Tuesday.

The judge also directed the EFCC to present Achimugu before the court on Wednesday.

EFCC AFFIDAVIT

Following the application filed by Achimugu, the anti-graft agency filed its counter-affidavit, deposed to by Chris Odofin, one of the EFCC investigators.

In the affidavit, Odofin told the court the agency is investigating Achimugu over alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption, and possession of property reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.

The EFCC investigator said Achimugu had initially honoured the invitation on February 12, 2024, during which she made a written statement and was subsequently granted administrative bail.

Odofin said instead of reporting back to the EFCC, she filed a fundamental human rights suit against the agency.

The investigator said Achimugu had stated in her statement that the inflow of N8.71 billion into her corporate bank accounts was an “investment fund” for the acquisition of an oil block.

Odofin said the socialite claimed that the funds were transferred to the federal government’s account through her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, while referencing documentation from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The investigator stated that further findings revealed that Achimugu’s company allegedly acquired two oil blocks—Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO—for $25.3 million.

The payments were allegedly made in cash via bureau de change operators, and the ultimate sources of the funds could not be traced to any legitimate business income or partnerships.

The agency also alleged that the acquisition process was marred by corruption, adding that the two oil blocks had not commenced exploration or production at the time of the investigation.