Court Orders EFCC To File Defence In Aisha Achimugu’s Suit To Stop Her Arrest

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and five other security agencies to file their defence in a suit instituted by Aisha Achimugu, the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group, seeking to stop her planned arrest and detention.

Other security agencies listed in the fundamental rights enforcement suit are the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, gave the order on Friday after Achimugu’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, informed the court that none of the respondents had made an appearance or filed a defence, despite being served an earlier order.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, filed on April 3, Achimugu is “asking for an interim injunction to stop the agencies from arresting or harassing her, invading her property, or infringing on her rights to liberty, privacy, and freedom of movement.”

She is also seeking an order to nullify her declaration as wanted by the EFCC on March 28, 2025, calling it “unwarranted, unjustifiable, devoid of probable cause,” designed to humiliate her.

“As a direct consequence of the declaration made by the 4th respondent, the applicant has suffered irreparable harm, including severe damage to her hard-earned reputation, substantial disruptions to her business operations, financial losses, emotional distress, and social stigma,” the court document reads.

“The adverse publicity and negative perception generated by the respondents’ actions have not only undermined her professional credibility but have also jeopardised existing business relationships, deterred potential investors and partners, and subjected the applicant to unwarranted public scrutiny and distress.”

In support of the suit, Ifeanyi Otuya, Achimogu’s brother, swore an affidavit detailing the applicant’s international business credentials and current medical condition.

Otuya said his sister travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) on March 3 for treatment, a day before the EFCC sent her an invitation over an investigation.

“The applicant could not honour the invitation immediately because she was already in the United Kingdom to prepare for medical treatment,” he said.

He said Achimugu briefly returned to Nigeria on March 8 to retrieve medical documents and returned to the UK the following day.

Otuya added that her lawyer wrote to the EFCC twice, requesting a rescheduled meeting for April 28 or 29.

However, he said an official of the EFCC on March 11 sent a WhatsApp message disputing her travel claims and threatening to declare her wanted.

Despite the correspondence, he said the EFCC declared her wanted on March 28 for alleged conspiracy and money laundering.

When the matter was called on Friday, no representatives from the respondent agencies appeared. Ogunwumiju told the court all parties had been duly served.

The judge said he would give the respondents one more chance.

“I will give them one more opportunity,” he said, adjourning the matter to April 28 and directing that hearing notices be reissued.