Due to her suspected involvement in a dubious N8.71 billion oil block transaction, businesswoman and socialite Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.
After a rigorous eight-hour interrogation session with EFCC investigators in Abuja, Achimugu may be charged in court today, Commission sources told The Nation.
Early on Tuesday morning, the troubled CEO of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited was taken into custody when she arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja from London.
Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered her to appear before the EFCC on April 29 and the court today, April 30, and she was arrested the day after that.
Investigated Bank Accounts: 136
Achimugu is being investigated for accusations of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, getting money through deception, and possessing property that may have been obtained illegally, according to an affidavit that EFCC investigator Chris Odofin deposed to.
According to the EFCC, Achimugu manages 136 bank accounts with 10 different banks, many of which are corporate. It is required to explain the type of activities that take place across these accounts and where they come from.
The 8.71 billion naira in question, according to Achimugu, was a “investment fund” for her company’s purchase of two oil blocks: Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO and Shallow Water PPL 3007.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) provided corroborating paperwork for her claim that the money was moved to a government account.
Red flags regarding the sources of the cash and the openness of the acquisition process were raised, however, when EFCC investigations showed that the $25.3 million payment for the oil blocks was made through bureau de change operators.
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Most likely to appear in court today
According to an EFCC source, Achimugu has been detained for hours and might be brought before the court right away.
“Achimugu has been being questioned for the past eight hours. We’re probably going to hold her. We might bring her to court in accordance with the court’s current order,” the source stated.
The source added that the court would have the final say over any release request, especially given Achimugu’s history of breaking her bail conditions.
Due to the severity of the alleged financial violations and Achimugu’s profile, the EFCC declared her wanted in March, drawing media and legal attention.
