KEY POINTS

• Businesswoman Aisha Achimugu declared a hunger strike after her arrest by the EFCC over alleged $25.3 million money laundering linked to fraudulent oil bloc acquisitions.

• The EFCC alleges bribes were paid to petroleum officials, with funds routed through Bureau de Change operators, and has traced 136 bank accounts tied to Achimugu.

• Her legal team claims political persecution, while the case underscores Nigeria’s intensified crackdown on oil sector corruption amid longstanding revenue leaks.

Nigerian socialite and CEO of Felak Concept Group, Aisha Achimugu, has initiated a hunger strike in custody following her arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering and corrupt oil bloc acquisitions.

Achimugu, detained upon arrival at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on April 29, 2025, faces accusations of funneling $25.3 million through Bureau de Change operators to acquire two oil licenses illegally.

Her lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), condemned the arrest as “a breach of due process” and claimed she is “a prisoner of conscience.”

EFCC alleges $25M oil bloc fraud

The EFCC’s affidavit alleges Achimugu’s company, Ocean Gate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, secured shallow- and deep-water oil blocs (PPL 3007 and PPL 302-DO) in 2022 using funds untraceable to legitimate income.

Investigators claim bribes were paid to officials at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to fast-track the deals. “The acquisition was marred by corrupt practices, and no exploration has occurred on these blocs since their allocation,” the EFCC stated.

Premium Times reports that the EFCC also identified 136 bank accounts linked to Achimugu across ten banks, intensifying scrutiny over alleged financial misconduct.

Achimugu had previously sued the EFCC, police, and other agencies on April 3, 2025, seeking protection from arrest, but the court dismissed her plea.

During Monday’s hearing, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered her to honor the EFCC’s invitation, prompting her voluntary return from London.

Ojukwu argued the arrest violated this agreement, stating “her detention undermines judicial authority.” The EFCC, however, maintains the arrest aligns with ongoing efforts to curb graft in Nigeria’s oil sector, which loses an estimated $10 billion annually to fraud.

The case highlights Nigeria’s fraught battle against high-profile corruption. Achimugu’s hunger strike mirrors tactics used by activists, but legal experts note such protests rarely influence court outcomes. If convicted, she faces up to 14 years under Nigeria’s Money Laundering Act.