Businesswoman Aisha Achimugu has refuted claims that $13 million was recovered from her residence during a raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), insisting that the actual sums found were $50,000 and N13 million.
Achimugu made the clarification on Monday during an interview on Channels Television, describing reports of the larger თანხ as inaccurate.
The EFCC had previously declared her wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. In March, a Federal High Court in Abuja also upheld the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd, to the Federal Government.
According to the anti-graft agency, the company allegedly worked with unlicensed Bureau de Change operators and some bank officials to source large cash sums suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The funds were reportedly used to pay signature bonuses for two oil blocks acquired in 2024.
Reacting to the $13 million claim, Achimugu said the matter is already before the court and declined to comment extensively, citing legal constraints.
“Since the issue is in court, it would be prejudicial to speak in detail. I have confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system and believe the right decision will be made in due course,” she said.
She, however, maintained that the reported თანხ did not originate from her home.
“My house was indeed raided, but only $50,000 and N13 million — which belongs to my mother — were found there, alongside my personal belongings. I don’t know how the impression arose that $13 million was discovered in my house. I’m not a bank,” she stated.
Achimugu added that keeping some foreign currency at home was necessary due to her children’s schooling abroad, noting that such funds are meant for emergencies.
She also questioned a statement attributed to the EFCC and published on its website, saying it lacked clarity and did not constitute a formal legal document served on her.
On the acquisition of the disputed oil blocks, Achimugu explained that her company participated in the Federal Government’s oil licensing rounds between 2022 and 2024, including deep offshore and mini bid rounds, and emerged successful through what she described as a transparent process.
“We went through the process and won transparently. It was a public exercise, not a selective one,” she said.
