Court rejects EFCC bid to appeal Aisha Achimugu bank account ruling

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has rejected an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking permission to challenge its earlier judgment on the freezing of bank accounts belonging to businesswoman Aisha Achimugu and companies linked to her at the Supreme Court.

The appellate court dismissed the commission’s application on Thursday, ruling that it had failed to establish sufficient grounds to warrant the leave to appeal.

The decision leaves intact the court’s July 22 judgment, which vacated an interim order freezing the accounts of Achimugu and corporate entities associated with her.

The latest ruling marks another setback for the EFCC in its legal battle with the businesswoman over the financial restrictions imposed during its investigations.

In its ruling, the court held that the commission’s application lacked merit and consequently dismissed it.

The dispute stems from an interim freezing order granted by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on April 10, 2025.

However, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo, Ishaq Mohammed Sani and Eleojo Enenche, unanimously set aside the order in its July 22 judgment.

The appellate court’s latest decision means the July judgment remains in force, as the EFCC has failed to secure permission from the court to challenge it at the Supreme Court.

The case has involved investigations, asset seizures, restrictions on bank accounts and multiple court proceedings over the EFCC’s actions against Achimugu and businesses associated with her.