Aisha Achimugu Photo Credit: aishaachimugu.com
By Abdullahi Abubakar
An FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of assets worth more than N8.9 billion linked to businesswoman Aisha Achimugu to the Federal Government.
Justice Jude Onwugbuzie made the order on Thursday after granting an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In his judgment, the judge held that the EFCC had fulfilled the conditions required by law for the grant of a final forfeiture order. He subsequently directed that the assets be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The forfeited assets were among properties the anti-graft agency alleged were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order and directed that the order be published to allow anyone with an interest in the assets to appear and show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited. No sufficient evidence was presented to overturn the interim order.
The ruling is the latest development in the EFCC’s investigations involving Achimugu, who has been under scrutiny over allegations bordering on money laundering and other financial crimes. The allegations remain the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.
Earlier this year, another court ordered the final forfeiture of 13 million dollars linked to Achimugu and her company after the EFCC argued that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Thursday’s judgment further strengthens the Federal Government’s asset recovery efforts and adds to a series of forfeiture orders secured by the EFCC in recent months as part of its campaign against economic and financial crimes.
