My life is in danger, I’m not a criminal – Aisha Achimugu

ABUJA — Businesswoman and founder of Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, Aisha Achimugu, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of persecution, intimidation and abuse of process, alleging that the agency’s actions have endangered her life, damaged her reputation and crippled her business interests.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Achimugu said she was not a criminal and had never been convicted of any offence, insisting that the anti-graft agency had subjected her to a sustained campaign of harassment and character assassination.

“I have never been known to be a troublemaker. I am not a criminal and I have never been convicted of any offence,” she said.

Achimugu alleged that the EFCC had engaged in “oppression, character assassination, intimidation and the deliberate dissipation of my lawfully acquired personal property,” adding that the agency’s actions had put her, her children and her investments at risk.

She said the commission’s repeated public statements and legal actions had unfairly portrayed her as a criminal, leading to the loss of business opportunities and reputational damage.

The statement comes days after a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Apo, granted a final forfeiture order transferring several assets linked to Achimugu to the Federal Government.

The forfeited assets include jewellery valued at over N4.6 billion, 11 luxury vehicles worth about N4.29 billion, as well as $50,000 and N30 million in cash.

The development followed an earlier ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to Achimugu and Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd after the EFCC argued that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

However, Achimugu maintained that the forfeiture order is being challenged on appeal.

She argued that the $13 million formed part of a $20 million payment made by her company to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for petroleum prospecting licences and not proceeds of any criminal activity.

According to her, documentary evidence of the payments had already been submitted to the NUPRC, including transfers of $2 million and $5 million made through a South African bank into designated government accounts.

She accused the EFCC of ignoring those records and continuing to advance allegations against her both in court and in the media.

Achimugu further alleged that the commission acted in bad faith by declaring her wanted despite being aware of her whereabouts and maintaining correspondence with her lawyers.

According to her, shortly after she was declared wanted, about 30 EFCC operatives raided her residence, seized jewellery, safes and personal funds, and subjected members of her family to intimidation.

She claimed that her elderly mother, who had just returned from spinal surgery abroad, was forced to remain seated for hours during the operation despite her health condition.

The businesswoman also alleged that EFCC operatives returned to her residence on January 20, 2026, while court proceedings relating to the matter were still pending, and removed all vehicles found on the premises using cranes and flatbed trucks without regard to ownership or possible damage.

She said that when she approached the court seeking the return of the seized vehicles and other personal belongings, the commission instead obtained another ex parte forfeiture order from an FCT High Court.

Achimugu also claimed that the EFCC’s actions affected her international travel, alleging that her United States visa was revoked shortly after she was declared wanted.

She further claimed that she encountered difficulties obtaining a visa using her Grenadian passport, preventing her from attending a Harvard executive programme for which she had already enrolled.

According to her, the developments have resulted in significant financial losses and denied her several business opportunities.

She maintained that she has always cooperated with authorities and has never attempted to evade investigation.

The EFCC has consistently maintained that its actions against Achimugu are based on ongoing investigations into alleged money laundering and the proceeds of unlawful activities. The commission has yet to respond to the latest allegations contained in her statement.

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