A Northern advocacy group, the Arewa Youth Council for Justice, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to remove the “wanted” designation placed on businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.
The group claims that the move by the anti-graft agency is politically motivated and linked to maneuvers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Recall that recently, the EFCC, through its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, declared Achimugu wanted over alleged money laundering.
Prior to this, there were claims that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, funneled campaign funds to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar through Achimugu. Both Sanwo-Olu and Abubakar have strongly denied the allegations.
According to the Arewa Youth Council for Justice, the EFCC’s actions appear to be an attempt to implicate both political figures.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by the National President and the National Secretary of the group, Isak Mammud and Timothy Isaiah, respectively, they declared that the intendment of the EFCC action was to ridicule Achimugu in order to have her implicate both Sanwo-Olu and Alhaji Abubakar.
While describing Achimugu as a known business and internationally renowned socialite, the Northern group urged the EFCC to drop the ‘wanted tag’ on her.
They noted that, “this is nothing different but a rehearsal of the earlier claims that funds were provided to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar through her. This has been refuted by both the Lagos State Governor and Alhaji Abubakar.
“This ideaJust BBof EFCC turning into a tool for political witch-hunting should end; we see no reason why a successful woman, who has brought hope to several homes, should be used as an object of a political chess game ahead of the 2027 general election.
“It is even more worrisome considering the haste to which she was declared wanted by the commission.
“We urge the Chairman of the EFCC to resist undue pressure and work for Nigerians and not as a willing tool in the hands of politicians who are desperate to silence others ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
