Prominent socialite and businesswoman Aisha Achimugu has proclaimed a "hunger strike" while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after being arrested by commission agents. 

According to a statement released Tuesday in Abuja by Achimugu's legal team, which was headed by Mr. Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, their client was taken into custody at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at around five in the morning.  

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Achimugu was listed as wanted by the EFCC in March due to claims of money laundering and criminal conspiracy.

According to NAN, Achimugu was directed by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which was presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo, to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday and the court on Wednesday.  Before being arrested by EFCC agents, Ojukwu stated that their client had freely travelled from London to accept the invitation.  

According to him, the celebrity told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday that she would be visiting the EFCC on Tuesday through her attorney.  

He clarified that the intended visit was related to an ongoing investigation into a money laundering and criminal conspiracy case that was allegedly lodged against her.

”In light of what transpired in court on Monday, our client returned based on the undertaking before the court to honour the EFCC’s invitation but was arrested at the airport.

”She has immediately gone on a hunger strike. She is a prisoner of conscience, and our stand on the arrest is that it has run contrary to the rule of law,” he said.

According to NAN, attempts to contact EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale regarding Achimugu's detention were unsuccessful because the phone rang multiple times without a response.  

According to Ojukwu, Achimugu was a well-known business tycoon and the Group Managing Director and CEO of Felak Concept Group, a conglomerate of enterprises in the fields of information technology, engineering, maritime, and oil and gas.  (NAN)

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