Appeal Court Rejects EFCC Challenge, Cites Abuse in Achimugu Account Freeze

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently dismissed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against an earlier judgment that vacated an order freezing 124 bank accounts linked to businesswoman Aisha Achimugu and companies associated with her.

This decision is highly significant for legal practitioners and businesses, as it reinforces the principle that freezing orders, while a potent tool for anti-graft agencies, are not absolute and must be exercised judiciously and for a reasonable duration. The appellate court's characterization of keeping the accounts frozen for over 15 months as an