By John Umeh
A Federal High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release Aisha Achimugu, a former official with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), within 24 hours, following a legal challenge against her detention.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, came after Achimugu’s legal team filed an application, claiming that her detention was unlawful and violated her fundamental rights. The court found in her favor, directing the EFCC to immediately release her pending further proceedings.
Achimugu was arrested earlier this week by the EFCC over allegations of fraud and embezzlement linked to her role at the NNPC. The agency has been investigating several high-ranking officials of the corporation, and Achimugu’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on corruption within the public sector.
Her legal team expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, asserting that Achimugu had been held without adequate cause or legal justification. They emphasized that she was entitled to bail or release, as stipulated under Nigerian law, especially given that no formal charges had been filed against her.
While the EFCC has not yet responded to the court order, legal experts predict that the agency will comply with the directive, as failure to do so could result in further legal consequences for the commission.
This decision adds to the ongoing scrutiny faced by the EFCC in handling high-profile corruption cases and could lead to greater public debate over the commission’s methods and the rights of individuals under investigation.
