$50,000, N13 million Found In My House, Not $13 million — Achimugu Clarifies 

Businesswoman Aisha Achimugu has dismissed claims that $13 million was recovered from her residence during a raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

She clarified that the actual amounts found were $50,000 and N13 million.

Achimugu made the clarification on Monday during an interview on Channels Television.

The EFCC had declared her wanted last year over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

A Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd, in March.

The EFCC had accused Oceangate of conspiring with unlicensed Bureau de Change operators and bank officials to source the funds in cash.

This money was suspected to be proceeds from unlawful activities and was allegedly used to pay signature bonuses on two oil blocks acquired in 2024.

Speaking about the $13 million claim, Achimugu stated that the matter is already before the court, so she would not go into further detail.

However, she was adamant that the figure reported was inaccurate.

She said, “First, I won’t go so much into the detail of $13 million. As you know, it’s a matter in court. It will be prejudicial for me to talk about it.”

She also said she strongly believes in Nigeria’s judicial system and trusts that the right decisions will be made in due time.

Achimugu further corrected the impression that $13 million was found in her house during the raid.

“My house was raided, yes, but only $50,000 and N13 million naira, which belonged to my mom, was found in my house,” she explained.

She added that the rest of the items recovered were personal belongings.

“I don’t know where Nigerians got the impression that I had $13 million in my house. I’m not a bank, so I wouldn’t keep $13 million in my house,” Achimugu said.

She explained that she had children studying abroad, which made it important to keep foreign currencies aside for emergencies.

Achimugu also disputed a statement published on the EFCC’s website, which she did not consider valid.

“The statement published on the EFCC’s website is from a certain state, which I believe is not Lagos, but that hasn’t been clarified,” she said.

Regarding the contested oil blocks, Achimugu said that Oceangate participated in two rounds of the Federal Government’s oil licensing process.

She noted that Oceangate emerged successful in both rounds.

“We went through that process and, by the grace of God, we won very transparently,” she stated.

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