The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has dealt another significant blow to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its protracted legal battle with prominent businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, dismissing the commission’s application for leave to challenge an earlier appellate judgment at the Supreme Court.

The ruling, delivered on Thursday, October 22, 2026, represents another important judicial victory for Achimugu, whose prolonged confrontation with the anti-graft agency has involved investigations, asset seizures, the freezing of corporate and personal bank accounts, and several court proceedings.

In dismissing the EFCC application, the appellate court held that the commission had failed to establish sufficient grounds to justify granting the permission sought.

According to an excerpt of the ruling, the court declared that the commission’s motion for leave to appeal its earlier judgment to the Supreme Court “lacks merit and accordingly dismissed.”

The decision leaves undisturbed, for now, the substantive judgment delivered by the same appellate court on July 22, 2026, which discharged an interim order freezing her bank accounts linked to Achimugu and corporate entities associated with her.

It also constitutes a fresh procedural setback for the EFCC in its efforts to sustain the restrictions earlier imposed on the businesswoman’s financial operations.

The latest development is particularly significant because the earlier Court of Appeal judgment had raised fundamental questions about the manner in which investigating agencies deploy interim freezing orders and the limits of their statutory powers in relation to private individuals and corporate organisations.

In that judgment, a three-member panel comprising Justices Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo, Ishaq Mohammed Sani and Eleojo Enenche unanimously vacated the freezing order initially granted by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on April 10, 2025.

The court held that allowing an interim ex parte freezing order to remain in force for more than 15 months amounted to an abuse of court process and a subversion of the rule of law.

The appellate court reasoned that such orders were intended as temporary measures to preserve disputed funds pending the hearing and determination of substantive applications, rather than indefinite instruments for restricting access to bank accounts.

The judgment followed a legal dispute arising from an application by the EFCC before Justice Turaki Adamu of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, seeking to freeze the accounts linked to Achimugu and companies associated with her.

The application was granted on April 10, 2025, with affected banks directed to prevent outward transactions on the accounts.

However, Achimugu subsequently challenged the order, arguing that the continued restrictions constituted an abuse of judicial process.

The dispute took another dimension when the businesswoman raised concerns over the movement of N1.8 billion from a SunTrust Bank account to a Central Bank of Nigeria/EFCC recovery account while the freezing order remained in force.

In a ruling delivered on August 27, 2025, Justice Adamu held that the transfer was unlawful and directed its reversal.

Dissatisfied with that decision, the EFCC approached the Court of Appeal, questioning, among other issues, the jurisdiction of the trial court to deliver its ruling during the judicial vacation, an alleged denial of fair hearing, and the evaluation of evidence relating to the bank accounts.

In its July 22 judgment, the Court of Appeal rejected the commission’s arguments concerning jurisdiction and fair hearing, holding that the delivery of a reserved ruling during judicial vacation did not invalidate the proceedings.

The appellate court, however, agreed with the EFCC on the separate issue involving the N1.8 billion transfer, finding that the evidence before the lower court did not sufficiently establish that the money originated from an account covered by the April 10 freezing order.

Consequently, it set aside the order directing the reversal of the N1.8 billion, while expressly clarifying that its decision did not validate the legality of the EFCC directive transferring the funds.

Notwithstanding that limited finding in favour of the commission, the appellate court discharged the freezing order in its entirety, ruling that the prolonged restriction could no longer be justified as an interim measure.

The court’s conclusion was unequivocal: the ex parte order restricting the accounts of Achimugu and the affected corporate entities was discharged and vacated.

Yesterday’s refusal to grant the EFCC leave to challenge that judgment at the Supreme Court has now reinforced Achimugu’s position in the particular dispute over her accounts.

For Achimugu, the decision is an important development in a legal battle she has consistently maintained was characterised by excessive enforcement measures and disregard for her constitutional rights.

The founder of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited and Group Managing Director of Felak Concept Group has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and questioned the commission’s handling of investigations into her business activities.

In a public statement in July, she accused the EFCC of subjecting her to intimidation, reputational damage and prolonged disruption of her legitimate business interests.

She maintained that investigations and enforcement measures against her had adversely affected substantial investments, business relationships and the operations of companies built over several years.

The businesswoman also raised concerns about what she considered a sustained trial by media, insisting that allegations against any individual must be established through proper judicial processes rather than public accusations.

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The state police bill has met the constitutional requirements with approvals by 24 State Houses of Assembly.

The approvals have paved the way for the constitutional amendment, meeting the two-thirds threshold required for constitutional change and bringing the country closer to a dual policing system. 

This development clears a major constitutional hurdle in the Federal Government’s efforts to decentralise policing and establish state-controlled police formations alongside the existing federal police structure.

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill announced the development on Friday, describing the approval as a significant milestone in reforming Nigeria’s policing architecture.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the group said the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, had received the endorsement of 24 of the country’s 36 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional requirement for passage.

The group commended the state legislatures for supporting the reform, while also acknowledging the National Assembly for securing the passage of the amendment in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

According to the statement, the successful ratification by the required number of state assemblies means the constitutional amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for onward transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

“In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent”, the statement said.

The working group explained that, once the constitutional process is complete, the amendment would provide the legal foundation for the dual policing arrangement envisaged under the proposed National Policing Bill, 2026.

It noted that the constitutional breakthrough would strengthen efforts to establish a policing framework under which federal and state police institutions would operate within clearly defined constitutional and legal boundaries.

The group also said work on the accompanying legislation was progressing on schedule, with the draft National Policing Bill and related legislative proposals currently undergoing review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

It said the Ministry was expected to conclude the exercise and return the draft bills to the working group on or before Friday, October 30, 2026.

Following the review, the group would give the proposed legislation final consideration before formally presenting the package to President Tinubu for further action.

“The Working Group’s efforts remain on track. The Federal Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing and validating the draft Bills and is expected to return them on or before Friday, 30th October 2026.

“Thereafter, the Group will give them final consideration before presenting them to Mr President”, the statement added.

The group called on  political leaders, security institutions, and other stakeholders to support the implementation process, stressing the importance of an orderly transition to a policing arrangement that can address the country’s security challenges more effectively.

“The Working Group urges all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system that makes Nigerians safer”, it stated.

The development marks a major step in President Tinubu’s push to establish state police as part of broader measures to strengthen internal security, improve local intelligence gathering, and bring law enforcement closer to communities.

The Presidential Working Group, chaired by Gbajabiamila, was constituted to develop the legislative framework for the proposed reform, including the National Policing Bill and consequential amendments required to accommodate the new policing structure.

The group had earlier submitted the draft National Policing Bill and 29 consequential bills to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for legal review and validation.

The family of Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, the late leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere,  has announced December 17, 2026, for the burial of the elder statesman, who died at the age of 100.

The burial arrangements were announced in a statement issued by Dr Taiwo Fasoranti on behalf of the family.

The family said the burial programme would begin with a Christian wake-keeping service on Wednesday, December 16, at the deceased’s residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The funeral service and interment are scheduled for Thursday, December 17, at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure.

Fasoranti, a prominent Yoruba leader, nationalist and elder statesman, died at his residence in Akure on Tuesday.

His death has continued to draw tributes from  political leaders, associates and other Nigerians who acknowledged his contributions to the Yoruba nation and the country. 

According to the statement, the wake-keeping service will take place at the late patriarch’s residence within the Omolere Nursery and Primary School Compound, Akure.

The statement said the funeral service would hold at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, on Thursday, December 17, after which the remains of the deceased would be interred at the church cemetery.

It added that guests would be entertained at his residence immediately after the interment.

The family further announced that an outing and thanksgiving service would be held on Sunday, December 20, at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure, to conclude the burial programme.

Describing the deceased as a beloved patriarch, a foremost nationalist and a distinguished leader of Afenifere, the family said the burial arrangements were intended to honour his memory and celebrate his life of service.

The statement read, “The family of late Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, CFR, is pleased to announce the burial arrangements of our beloved patriarch, leader of Afenifere and foremost nationalist, who passed away at the age of 100 years.”

The family appealed to friends, associates, well-wishers and members of the public to support it with prayers and attend the funeral ceremonies in honour of the late elder statesman.

“We request your prayers and presence as we honour the memory of a distinguished elder and patriot,” the statement added.