Prominent business executive and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, has gone on a hunger strike in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following her arrest.
Achimugu’s legal team, led by Mr. Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, issued a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, confirming that she was arrested at around 5 a.m at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The EFCC had previously declared Achimugu wanted in March, accusing her of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, led by Justice I.E. Ekwo, had issued an order on Monday for Achimugu to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday and before the court on Wednesday.
Ojukwu clarified that Achimugu had voluntarily returned from London to comply with the EFCC’s invitation, which was part of an ongoing investigation into the criminal conspiracy and money laundering charges against her.
He explained that she had notified the court of her intent to visit the EFCC, but was unexpectedly arrested upon arrival at the airport.
In response to her arrest, Achimugu immediately began a hunger strike, with her legal team describing her as a “prisoner of conscience” and adding that the arrest violated the rule of law. Efforts to contact EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone went unanswered.
Achimugu is a renowned business magnate and the Group Managing Director and CEO of Felak Concept Group, a conglomerate involved in industries such as engineering, maritime, oil and gas, and information technology.
