Businesswoman and founder of Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, Aisha Achimugu, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of persecution, intimidation and character assassination, insisting she is not a criminal despite the agency’s ongoing prosecution against her.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Achimugu said the EFCC’s actions had damaged her reputation, disrupted her investments and placed her life and those of her children at risk.
She alleged that the anti-graft agency declared her wanted despite being aware of her whereabouts and maintaining communication with her through exchanged correspondence.
According to Achimugu, EFCC operatives invaded her home, seized jewellery, cash and other valuables, and subjected her family, including her elderly mother who had recently undergone spinal surgery, to humiliation during the operation.
The businesswoman also challenged the forfeiture of $13 million linked to her company, maintaining that the funds were legitimate payments made to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for oil block transactions. She said the forfeiture order is currently being challenged on appeal.
Achimugu further alleged that the EFCC orchestrated a campaign that led to the revocation of her United States visa, affecting her business interests and preventing her from attending a scheduled Harvard executive programme.
She claimed to have lost several investment opportunities as a result of what she described as a sustained effort to tarnish her image.
“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, adding that she remains confident the courts will ultimately vindicate her.
Achimugu’s statement comes days after a Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered the final forfeiture of jewellery, exotic vehicles and cash linked to her, following earlier forfeiture orders involving $13 million connected to her company. The EFCC maintains that the assets are proceeds of unlawful activities, an allegation she denies.