Aisha Achimugu ordered to face EFCC over N8.7 billion oil scandal. (Photo by Theguardian)
Abuja, Nigeria — Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Aisha Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of a widening investigation into an alleged N8.71 billion oil block transaction.
The directive mandates her appearance on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, and again before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
The ruling came in response to a suit—filed under FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025—initiated by Aisha Achimugu against multiple federal enforcement agencies. The suit names the EFCC, Nigeria Police Force, DSS, ICPC, NSCDC, and the Nigeria Immigration Service as respondents in what she claimed was an infringement of her rights.
EFCC Details Allegations Against Aisha Achimugu
In court, EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, submitted a counter-affidavit through Commission investigator Chris Odofin. The document accuses Aisha Achimugu of conspiracy, corruption, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, and possession of assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
According to the affidavit, Aisha Achimugu initially appeared before the EFCC on February 12, 2024, and submitted a written statement. She was granted administrative bail through her counsel and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba. However, she failed to comply with conditions for follow-up engagements and instead filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit that was previously dismissed by the court.
The EFCC asserts that the case is centered on a suspicious inflow of N8.71 billion into corporate accounts owned by Aisha Achimugu. In her earlier explanation to investigators, she claimed the funds were for an investment to secure an oil block through her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited.
Oil Block Payments and Financial Irregularities Linked to Aisha Achimugu
Further investigation revealed that her firm acquired two oil blocks—Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO—at a cost of $25.3 million. The payments were reportedly made in cash through various bureau de change operators. However, the EFCC could not trace the original sources of the funds to any legal or verifiable business entities connected to Aisha Achimugu.
The Commission also alleged that the acquisition process was tainted by corruption. As of the time of the investigation, neither of the oil blocks had commenced exploration or production activities. This, investigators argued, raised red flags about the legitimacy and purpose of the transactions.
Aisha Achimugu Operates 136 Bank Accounts, Says EFCC
The EFCC further disclosed that Aisha Achimugu maintains 136 separate bank accounts across ten financial institutions in Nigeria. These accounts are held in both her personal name and in the names of associated corporate entities. Officials stated that the volume and spread of these accounts pointed to an intent to conceal or distribute illicit proceeds.
Following the dismissal of her earlier suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024), the EFCC continued its probe by sending letters to key institutions such as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and other relevant authorities. Some responses have been received and reviewed, while others are pending.
Court Rejects Delay Tactics by Aisha Achimugu
The EFCC alleged that the current suit filed by Aisha Achimugu is a strategic attempt to hinder the investigation and evade legal consequences.
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Justice Ekwo’s ruling now compels Achimugu to appear before the EFCC as the investigation progresses into its next phase.
Her court appearance on Wednesday will be critical in determining the future of the case, which has attracted national attention due to its financial scale and potential implications for Nigeria’s oil licensing regime.
