•Aisha Achimugu
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to halt what it described as “unjust persecution” of a socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.
A statement today issued by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, faulted the manner of the raid carried out by the EFCC personnel in the residence of Achimugu in Abuja.
It would be recalled that a viral video recently showed officials of the Commission, reportedly in the family home of the Achimugu, reports Daily Independent.
This came after she was declared wanted by the EFCC.
In the video, her 80-year-old mother was also said to have been forced to sit on the bare floor, tortured and refused to be given water when she requested it.
Nnabuike queried the action of the EFCC for declaring the national honour’s recipient wanted barely some days after she was invited by the Commission.
He said enquiry by the Igbo group showed that some days after Achimugu was informed of the invitation by her lawyer, the Commission rushed to the media to declare her wanted even when their letter in the public domain stated that everything she has been accused of is an allegation.
According to Nnabuike, “This development clearly smacks of a premeditated agenda to embarrass and discredit her personality.
“What else could justify the haste for an alleged crime to warrant being declared wanted just some days after she was invited by the commission?
“Mrs Achimugu is a global figure. She is not a politician. She is a national honours recipient, as well as a recipient of the US President’s award. This calibre of a person can never go under hiding.
“The fact that she is currently out of the country when the EFCC extended an invitation to her does not warrant their hasty declaration on alleged case without a competent court sanctioning such action.
“This is utterly reprehensible, and we urge that the EFCC should not continue to be used as a tool for political witch-hunting.
“Mrs Achimugu is an established, decent, and well- to -do businesswoman who respects the laws and humanity and from a respected family.
“Her source of wealth has never been a source of controversy or hidden.
“We want to declare that her rights should be respected; her contributions to the growth of citizens and the nation should not be ignored. The EFCC should withdraw the wanted tag on her.
While quoting Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 36 of the Nigerian Police Act, the Youth President said the relevant laws prohibit arrest by proxy.
He said, “the reported invitation and declaration of Mrs. Achimugu wanted is unlawful and a gross violation of the provisions of Nigeria’s relevant laws.
“We had waited to see whether the Commission would make a turn, but its silence means that they are bent on tarnishing her image for someone who is law -abiding.
“This is worrisome and should be condemned in totality. There is no justification for their actions. This is a gross illegality.
“We recall that the EFCC did announce that it would stop this kind of raid, but it appears that nothing has changed. This crude method of arrest defies all logic and legality.
“All these go to show that there is more to this than meets the eye. It is albeit political is pure harassment to satisfy certain interests.
“Having said this, we urge the Chairman of the EFCC, who pledged before now to reform the Commission, to direct the operatives to act right and let the law take its due course without further delay or embarrassment”
