Once a figure of quiet ambition in Nigeria’s engineering and consultancy sectors, Aisha Achimugu’s name now sings across headlines with a mix of reverence, intrigue, and scandal. The Managing Director of Felak Concept Group and the first female consultant on Nigeria’s Deep Sea Port initiative, Achimugu was, until recently, better known for breaking barriers than making front-page news. Today, her legacy hangs delicately between boardroom triumph and courtroom drama.
The turning point came not in a business meeting, but on a sun-drenched Caribbean island. In January, Achimugu marked her 50th birthday with a celebration that was equal parts Hollywood and high society. Guests – who arrived via chartered jets – sipped champagne beneath the stars of Calivigny Island, serenaded by international acts, while rumour trails followed the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu back to Nigeria. The party ignited controversy over its extravagance and timing, drawing sharp commentary about public perception and elite indulgence.
But the glitter faded fast. By March, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Achimugu wanted in connection with a sprawling money laundering and Ponzi scheme probe. Her arrest in Abuja in early April marked the beginning of a legal saga involving over 136 bank accounts, 21 companies, and multi-billion naira transactions allegedly linked to unlicensed financial activities. Her name surfaced alongside that of Maxwell Odum, the embattled promoter of MBA Trading and Capital Limited.
While Achimugu was granted administrative bail under court order, the case remains very much alive. The presiding judge has since been suspended, casting a further veil over the proceedings. Meanwhile, EFCC investigators continue to link her to suspicious flows of funds between her businesses and companies under investigation for fraudulent investments.
So, who is Achimugu? Visionary entrepreneur or financial operator in designer heels? Perhaps both. In the court of public opinion – and eventually of law – her story is still unfolding. One thing is certain: from opulence in Grenada to interrogations in Abuja, Achimugu’s tale is no longer just about influence. It is now about accountability.
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