EFCC breaks silence on alleged links of Achimugu’s investigations to Atiku, Sanwo-Olu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reacted to media reports linking its investigations of Ms. Aisha Achimugu with political undercurrents involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Lagos State Governor,  Babajide Sanwo-Olu. 

This is contained in statement signed by Head,  Media & Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, on Friday.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the investigations of Achimugu have no correlation of any kind with the two political actors.  She is being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering and has since been declared Wanted by the Commission,” the statement said.

The anti-graft commission said it commenced investigation of Achimugu in 2022, adding that she approached the court to obtain an injunction restraining the EFCC from arresting, investigating, inviting or detaining her for any alleged criminal act,  even as the injunction was challenged and vacated on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

According to the statement, the court ruled that “…no court has the power to stop the investigative powers of the Police or EFCC or any agency established under our laws to investigate crimes when there is reasonable suspicion of commission of a crime or ample evidence of commission of an offence by a suspect”.

The court further upheld the interim order of forfeiture of assets of Achimugu suspected to be proceeds of crime, dismissing her suit against it as lacking  merit .

“The foregoing clearly establishes that the EFCC’s case against her has no immediate or remote nexus with any politician or any veiled or open reference to any political engagement or transaction.

“The EFCC is non-partisan and non-sectarian.  We enjoin the public to continue to keep faith with the professionalism of the Commission without imputing any extraneous consideration to its works,” it added.