Arewa Youths Denounce EFCC’s Declaration of Aisha Achimugu as Wanted, Calls It Political Persecution

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum has vehemently condemned the recent decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to declare businesswoman Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu wanted. The EFCC accused Achimugu of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

In a notice issued on Friday, EFCC’s Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, declared Achimugu wanted, with the statement: “The public is hereby notified that Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.”

However, the Arewa Youths swiftly responded, issuing a statement from their spokesperson, Mallam Yusuf, condemning the EFCC’s actions as unjust and unfair. They labeled the move as an attack on a reputable businesswoman known for her transparency and integrity.

Yusuf stated, “The Arewa Youths, alongside other well-meaning Nigerians, were shocked to learn that Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, a successful and reputable businesswoman from Kogi State, has been declared wanted by the EFCC over unfounded and baseless allegations. This is a clear case of persecution.”

The group also raised suspicions that the EFCC’s actions might be politically motivated. They suggested that the declaration could be linked to reports, still unverified, claiming that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu used Achimugu as a conduit to channel funds to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election.

“We don’t want to believe that this smear campaign is connected to false allegations that Governor Sanwo-Olu used Aisha Achimugu to funnel funds to Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign,” Yusuf remarked.

Atiku Abubakar, who has denied the allegations, saw his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, issue a statement in response to these claims. The statement, titled “Halt This Tinubu’s Voyage of Misadventure and Campaign of Calumny Against Atiku Abubakar,” dismissed any notion that Lagos State resources were funneled to Atiku’s campaign.

The Arewa Youths have demanded that the EFCC immediately remove Achimugu’s name from their wanted list and issue a public apology. The group insists that the allegations against her are false and politically motivated, aiming to tarnish her reputation.

“We strongly condemn this declaration and call for the immediate withdrawal of these fabricated allegations,” Yusuf declared. “This is a clear attempt to ruin the reputation of a woman who has dedicated her time and resources to empowering youths and women across Nigeria. The EFCC must retract its accusations and offer a public apology.”