The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arrested Aisha Achimugu, Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group, over allegations of money laundering and financial fraud.
She was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon her arrival from London at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
EFCC sources, who asked not to be named to comment on the matter they were not yet permitted to discuss with the press, confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES.
Ms Achimugu’s arrest came less than 24 hours after her lawyers expressed during Monday’s hearing of her fundamental human rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja her willingness to submit to EFCC. The judge, at the proceedings, ordered her to honour her commitment to surrender to the anti-graft agency Tuesday.
The Cable reported that her lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, adding that the businesswoman had begun a hunger strike.
She arrived voluntarily and was arrested by the EFCC. She has immediately gone on hunger strike,” Mr Ojukwu said. “This phase will surely pass. Nigeria’s rule of law is at the precipice.”
The EFCC had declared Ms Achimugu wanted in a 28 March public notice over her alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, money laundering, corruption, and possession of unlawfully acquired property, in connection with the controversial MBA Trading and Capital Limited scheme.
On 3 April, she filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit to restrain the EFCC and other agencies sued as co-defendants from arresting or detaining her.
Other agencies she sued alongside EFCC the Nigeria Police Force, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).