Court Orders Aisha Achimugu To Appear Before EFCC Over N8.7 Billion Oil Block Investigation.
Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered businesswoman Aisha Achimugu to present herself before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial crimes.
The judge further directed that Achimugu must also appear before the court on Wednesday, 30 April 2025. The ruling was delivered on Monday, 28 April 2025, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, which was filed by Achimugu against several Nigerian law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
In a counter-affidavit submitted by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the Commission revealed that Achimugu is currently under investigation for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption, and unlawful possession of assets.
According to the affidavit, deposed by EFCC investigator Chris Odofin, Achimugu initially honoured the Commission’s invitation on 12 February 2024. She provided a written statement and was released on administrative bail with her lawyer, Darlington N. Ozurumba, acting as surety. However, the EFCC claimed she failed to comply with the terms of her bail, opting instead to initiate legal proceedings against the agencies involved.
In her statement to the EFCC, Achimugu reportedly explained the inflow of N8.71 billion into her corporate bank accounts as an “investment fund” for acquiring an oil block. She also stated that the funds had been paid into a Federal Government account via her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, with documentation provided by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
However, further investigation allegedly revealed that Oceangate acquired two oil blocks—Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO—at a total cost of $25.3 million, raising questions about the financial transactions involved.
The case continues to unfold, as the court and the EFCC seek further clarification regarding the origin and purpose of the substantial funds involved.
