Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered Aisha Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial crimes.

In a ruling delivered on Monday, April 28, 2025, Justice Ekwo also directed Achimugu to present herself before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

The order came in response to a suit filed by Achimugu, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, against several law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the EFCC, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Responding to the application, EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, presented a counter-affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigator, Chris Odofin. In the affidavit, the Commission disclosed that Achimugu is under investigation for conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption, and possession of property suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.

The affidavit detailed that Achimugu had initially honoured an EFCC invitation on February 12, 2024, during which she provided a written statement and was granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba. However, she allegedly failed to honour subsequent appointments, opting instead to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC.

Investigators further revealed that Achimugu admitted to receiving N8.71 billion into her corporate accounts, claiming it was an \"investment fund\" for the acquisition of an oil block. She said the funds were transferred to the Federal Government via her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, referencing documents from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

However, the EFCC\'s findings contradicted her claims, indicating that her company actually acquired two oil blocks — Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO — at a combined cost of $25.3 million. Investigators allege that the payments were made in cash through bureau de change operators, with the ultimate sources of the funds untraceable to any legitimate business ventures.

The Commission also alleged that the acquisition process was tainted with corruption. Despite the acquisition, neither oil block had commenced exploration or production as at the time of investigation.

According to the EFCC, Achimugu\'s fundamental rights suit was a ploy to stall investigations, even after a previous suit, No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024, seeking similar reliefs, had already been dismissed by the court.

Further investigations revealed that Achimugu operates 136 bank accounts across ten banks, in both her personal and corporate names. The EFCC has been gathering additional evidence through letters sent to banks, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), land authorities, the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The case continues on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, with Achimugu expected to comply with the court’s directive to report to the EFCC on Tuesday.