Court orders EFCC to release Achimugu within 24 hours

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release popular businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, within 24 hours.

Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the directive on Wednesday during a brief ruling, stating that the EFCC must comply immediately and report back to the court on May 2 with an update on the order’s implementation.

The development follows an earlier court directive compelling the EFCC to present Achimugu in court. EFCC operatives complied by bringing her to the hearing as scheduled.

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Achimugu, who was sandwiched by two female EFCC officers, arrived in court at about 11:35 am.

Justice Ekwo had, on Monday, ordered the industrialist, alleged to have fled the country, to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday at 12 noon.

The judge, who gave the order in a short ruling, also ordered the EFCC, upon the appearance of Achimugu at its office, to return with her to court on Wednesday for the report.

Achimugu was, however, said to have been arrested by the EFCC’s operatives on her arrival abroad at about 5am and kept in custody.