Court Dismisses Aisha Achimugu’s N10bn Rights Suit Against EFCC

…Says EFCC has power to search her house

Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed the N10 billion fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by Abuja-based businesswoman, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/466/2026, Achimugu had asked the court to declare the EFCC’s search of her house and seizure of her cars, jewelries and other items as unlawful and a violation of her right to privacy, and to restrain the Commission from harassing her.

Delivering judgment on Monday, October 12, 2026, Justice Liman held that the EFCC acted within its statutory powers after receiving intelligence on alleged criminal activities, and that Achimugu failed to prove any violation to warrant N10bn damages.

The court dismissed the suit in its entirety for lacking merit, describing it as “frivolous and brought in bad faith.”

Achimugu had also asked the court to enforce her rights to privacy, including an order of the court restraining the defendant from threatening or harassing and invading her private residence.

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Part of her claim was for the court to award a N10,000,000,000 (ten billion naira) in damages against the EFCC for what she described as an invasion of her privacy.

Delivering judgment in the suit on Monday, October 12, 2026, Justice Liman dismissed the suit and held that the defendant has the power to search the plaintiff’s property after receiving intelligence on the alleged criminal activities of the plaintiff.

“EFCC has the right to search the residence,” he said.

The judge said that Achimugu and her legal representatives failed to show reason to warrant the kind of damage she demanded from the EFCC and equally dismissed the request for N10 billion damages.
On the whole, Justice Liman agreed that there was nothing that should have stopped the EFCC from carrying out its statutory duties.

The court therefore held that the matter lacked merit and was dismissed because “it is frivolous and it was brought in bad faith.”

The damage she sought was also denied.

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Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the EFCC, Emenike Mgbemele said the judgment was in the interest of justice, adding that the suit was a ploy to waste the time of the court.