The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release businesswoman Aisha Achimugu within 24 hours.

The ruling was issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Wednesday, also directing all parties involved to report back to the court on May 2, 2025, to confirm compliance.

Recall that Achimugu was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Tuesday morning upon her arrival from London.

The EFCC had previously declared her wanted in connection with allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption, and possession of properties suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.

Justice Ekwo had on Monday, ordered Achimugu to submit herself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an ongoing investigation of her alleged crimes.

The Judge also held that following her appearance at the EFCC office, the anti-graft agency is to return with her and appear before the court on Wednesday, April 30, to report.

This issue is sequel to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Achimugu at the Federal High Court against the EFCC, DSS, Civil Defence, police, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, alleging violations of her rights.

The suit was part of her legal battle following her previous arrest and investigation by the EFCC on money laundering and conspiracy charges.

Her legal action prompted the court to order her appearance before the EFCC on Tuesday, April 29, and subsequently before the court on April 30.

Following a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force has resumed the issuance of tinted glass permits across the country.

This development was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

According to the Force spokesperson, the move comes in response to rising concerns and complaints from the public over the harassment of vehicle owners by law enforcement agents for using factory-fitted tinted windows.

“The Nigeria Police Force, under the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reactivated the issuance of Tinted Glass Permits (TGP) nationwide through a secure and user-friendly digital platform available at https://possap.gov.ng.

“This initiative comes in response to widespread public complaints about the harassment of motorists over the use of tinted windows and reflects the need for a clear, transparent, and accountable process for regularising factory-fitted tinted glass on vehicles”, the statement partly read.

Highlighting the prevalence of modern vehicles designed with tinted windows for comfort and aesthetics, the police emphasised the importance of having a formal system to regulate usage.

“With modern automobiles increasingly manufactured with tinted windows, it has become essential to provide a standardised system that accommodates legitimate use while ensuring public safety.

“Tinted vehicles have often been exploited for criminal purposes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, ‘one-chance’ scams, and other forms of banditry”, Adejobi explained.

According to the statement, the abuse of tinted windows by criminals creates operational challenges for law enforcement and compromises national security.

“Their use hampers police visibility and impedes effective law enforcement, thereby contributing to public insecurity.

“The reactivation of the permit system is a strategic move to identify lawful users such as individuals with medical requirements or members of the security community while preventing misuse for criminal activities”, he stated.

He noted that the reintroduced system is also expected to help the police enhance investigations and improve overall security architecture in Nigeria.

He also added that to ensure authenticity and ease of access, the new platform features digital permits equipped with QR codes and a rapid processing window.

“It is expected to enhance police investigative capabilities and strengthen national security efforts.

Applicants can now process their permits online, with identity verification integrated through the National Identification Number (NIN) and Tax Identification Number (TIN), alongside biometric capture and background checks.

“The system also features QR-coded digital permits, with a streamlined processing timeline of 72 hours.

To ensure a smooth transition, a 30-day grace period has been approved, effective from May 1st, 2025, within which motorists are expected to comply”, he added.

In addition, he explained that law enforcement will begin active implementation after the grace period, and the police warn that officers who misuse the enforcement process will be sanctioned.

“Enforcement will commence at the end of this period. Officers found engaging in unprofessional conduct, such as extortion or harassment, in the course of enforcement will be decisively dealt with in accordance with extant disciplinary procedures”, he said.

The Inspector-General reassured the public of the Force’s commitment to modern policing anchored on transparency, accountability, and public cooperation.

“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates the Force’s commitment to a technologically driven and citizen-focused policing strategy.

“He urges the public to embrace the initiative in the interest of safer roads, enhanced public trust, and a more secure Nigeria”, the statement concluded.

With two years to the next presidential election, mixed reactions have trailed the gale of defections by high-profile politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This comes as it was hinted that the coalition spearheaded by former PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar may not succeed against the President Bola Tinubu-led APC due to moves by some Fulani interests to escalate the Fulani war that has birthed itself in Nigeria.

Recently, Atiku, his counterpart from the Labour Party Peter Obi, Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of the coalition under the Social Democratic Party.

Since the announcement, no political bigwig has joined the party in their push to wrest power from Tinubu in 2027.

This is as the PDP and Atiku’s camp lost two major stakeholders from the South-South, Ifeanyi Okowa and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.

Okowa, who was Atiku’s presidential running mate in the 2023 election, had dumped the PDP for the APC alongside Oborevwori at a stakeholders’ meeting in Asaba, Delta State.

It was observed that Oborevwori’s defection now puts the APC in the lead in the Nigerian Delta region, Delta, Edo, and Cross River states are APC, while the governors of Akwa Ibom and Rivers states have backed President Tinubu, leaving only Bayelsa State with the PDP.

In the Southwest, the APC may likely retain votes from the region because Tinubu hails from the area.

For the North, there have been agitations over the region’s political leaning ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with former presidential aide Hakeem Baba-Ahmed saying the North will decide its political direction in the next six months because the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari made the region wiser.

Baba-Ahmed said, “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way.”

While Baba-Ahmed, a former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), El-Rufai has been trying to galvanize the North to tilt their votes towards the opposition coalition with his visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, and former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso amid talks with other prominent politicians from the rregion.