BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Entrepreneur and social figure Aisha Achimugu has refuted reports claiming that $13 million was seized from her home, maintaining that only $50,000 and N13 million were discovered during a search of her property.
She addressed the issue on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a show aired on Channels Television. According to her, the widely reported figure of $13 million is incorrect and creates a false impression.
It can be recalled that the EFCC had previously listed Achimugu as wanted. The agency alleged her involvement in a case related to criminal collaboration and financial misconduct.
As part of its investigation, the EFCC reportedly conducted a raid on her residence, after which varying accounts surfaced about the amount of money recovered. Achimugu, however, declined to go into specifics regarding the alleged $13 million, explaining that the issue is already before the court.
She also expressed doubt about the source of the claim, emphasizing that she does not keep such large amounts of cash at home.
In her words: “First, I will not go deeply into the issue of $13 million. As you are aware, it is already a matter before the court, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on it. I have confidence in Nigeria’s judicial process and trust that a fair judgment will be delivered in due course.
“However, I must correct the narrative that $13 million was found in my residence. Yes, my home was searched, but only $50,000 and N13 million, which belongs to my mother, was recovered, along with my personal items.
“I am unsure how the public came to believe that I had $13 million in my house. I am not a financial institution, so I would not store such an amount at home. I have children studying overseas, so it is necessary to keep some foreign currency available for emergencies.”
