Prominent business executive and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, has embarked on a hunger strike following her arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement issued Tuesday by her legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Chikaosolu Ojukwu, the arrest occurred around 5 a.m., shortly after Achimugu voluntarily arrived from London to honour an invitation by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC had in March declared Achimugu wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. Her legal team, however, maintains that she returned to Nigeria on her own accord in compliance with a Federal High Court order issued Monday by Justice I.E. Ekwo. The court had directed Achimugu to present herself before the EFCC on Tuesday and appear in court on Wednesday.
“Our client returned based on the undertaking before the court to honour the EFCC’s invitation but was arrested at the airport,” said Ojukwu. “She has since gone on a hunger strike. She is a prisoner of conscience, and we believe this arrest contravenes the rule of law.”
Attempts by reporters to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his line went unanswered.
Achimugu is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group, a conglomerate with interests spanning engineering, maritime, oil and gas, and information technology. Her legal team insists that she should be allowed due process as investigations continue.
The development has sparked public interest, with observers closely watching the unfolding legal proceedings.
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