In a dramatic twist to one of Nigeria’s high-profile financial investigations, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested influential businesswoman and socialite, Mrs. Aisha Achimugu, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Achimugu, who has been on the EFCC’s radar for over a month, was taken into custody in the early hours of Tuesday, around 5:00 a.m., shortly after touching down on a British Airways flight from London. Her arrest follows a month-long manhunt and public listing in the EFCC’s bulletin as a wanted person over allegations bordering on money laundering and other serious financial crimes.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Mrs. Achimugu’s decision to return to the country was not coincidental. A Federal High Court in Abuja had recently issued a compelling order directing her to appear before EFCC investigators no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The court’s directive reportedly stemmed from her repeated failure to respond to previous summons and mounting evidence pointing to her involvement in complex financial infractions.
Her legal team, in a brief statement released shortly after the arrest, confirmed that their client returned voluntarily to "clear her name" and "cooperate fully with the commission." They also stated that the timing of her return should not be misinterpreted as an attempt to evade justice but rather as a show of good faith.
Despite the buzz surrounding her arrest, the EFCC has yet to issue an official statement detailing the charges against her or the outcome of her initial interrogation. However, insiders at the agency disclosed that her alleged crimes are linked to suspicious transactions traced to companies associated with high-level contract racketeering, illegal foreign transfers, and the laundering of billions of naira through shell companies over several years.
Aisha Achimugu, widely known in elite social and business circles, made headlines in 2023 when she hosted a lavish 50th birthday celebration that spanned multiple countries, drawing attention to her ostentatious lifestyle and stirring public curiosity about the sources of her wealth. That display, some say, intensified scrutiny from anti-graft agencies and led to renewed investigations into her financial dealings.
As of press time, the EFCC is reportedly preparing to arraign her if satisfactory explanations are not provided during her interrogation. Her fate may rest heavily on her ability to account for the allegations stacked against her, which sources suggest involve both local and international dimensions of financial misconduct.
Observers say her arrest could signal a broader crackdown on suspected financial crimes among Nigeria’s elite, particularly those linked to politically exposed persons and high-value government contracts.
The coming days will reveal whether Achimugu walks free or joins the growing list of Nigerian elites currently facing prosecution in what appears to be a reinvigorated anti-corruption drive under the present administration.