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By Lukman Olabiyi
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has ordered the arrest of former Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Lawal Kuru for failure to appear in court on alleged N76 billion fraud charge preferred against him
The court had fixed yesterday for Kuru arraignment along with the Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the receiver manager of Arik, Kamilu Alaba Omokide, the Union Bank Plc and a company, Super Bravo Limited for alleged N76 billion and $31.5millon fraud.
According to the charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the defendants are: Omokide, Kuru, Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Super Bravo Limited as first to fifth defendants respectively.
They are facing six counts bordering on making a false statement, fraudulent conversion,abuse of office, stealing and dishonest conversion of property preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
At yesterday’s proceeding, the prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu,SAN and defendants’ counsel, Taiwo Osipitan ,SAN, for the first and third defendant, Olalekan Ojo,SAN, for the fourth defendant, Tayo Oyetibo,SAN,for the 5th defendant and I.B. Amefula appeared for the second defendant holden brief of Olasupo Sashore,SAN.
Due to the absence of the second defendant, (Kuru) Shittu prayed the court to issue warrant of arrest against the second defendant.
Shittu submitted that the prosecution would not be able to go on with the arraignment of the defendants due to second defendant absence.
He said, the former MD of AMCON had jumped administrative bail granted by the EFCC on several occasions.
“ In view of the attitude of the second defendant, we urge the court to issue bench warrant.
“My lord, all the defendants in this case were served but they got to the residence of the second defendant, the man had disappeared. He had blocked his contact
“Someone who is the former MD of AMCON is not supposed to behave that way.”
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Justice Dada in her ruling on the application, granted prosecution’s counsel prayer and issued warrant of arrest against the second defendant, Kuru.
The Judge said when he would be present in the next adjourned date, she would vacate the order.
The court therefore, adjourned further hearing in the case till January 20.
In the charge against the defendants, EFCC alleged that sometime in 2011, Union Bank Nigeria Plc, with the intention of causing and/or inducing unwarranted sale of Arik Air loans and bank guarantees Union Bank, made false statements to the Assets Management Cooperation of Nigeria regarding Arik Air Limited’s performing loans ànd later transferred the sum of N71bn, to AMCON.
The commission also alleged that Kuru, Omokide who is the receiver manager of Arik Air Limited and the CEO of Arik Air Limited in receivership, Captain Ilegbodu , sometime in 2022, allegedly stole and fraudulently converted to their use of NG Eagle Limited the total sum of N4,9bn.
EFCC alleged that Ilegbodu as MD/CEO of Arik Air Ltd in receivership, in May, 2024, stole the sum of N22,500,000m, by fraudulently converting same to the use of Magashi Ali Mohammed property of Arik Air Ltd.
The anti-graft agency alleged that on July 11, 2019, the former MD Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Kuru and Omokide as receiver and manager of Arik Air while being public officers, abused their office authority, intentionally and in violation of the discharge of their functions directed to be incorporated a Company called NG Eagle Limited, RC Number 1600277 for the purpose of obtaining undue advantage for themselves and or cronies.
Omokide, Kuru and Ilegbodu were alleged to have on February 12, 2022, and obtained undue advantage for themselves and cronies and intentionally authorized the tear down and destruction of 5N-JEA with Serial No. 15058 valued at $31.5m, an arbitrary act, which is prejudicial to the economic stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Arik Air Limited.
EFCC said that on November 29, 2023, Omokide, Kuru and Super Bravo limited dishonestly converted to the use of Super Bravo Limited three Boeing aircrafts known as Manufacturer Serial Number 33944 registration number: 5N MJG, manufacturer serial number 35638,registration number 5N MJN and Manufacturer Serial Number 34761,Registration Number 5N MJE property of Arik Air Limited.
According to EFCC, the offences committed contravened Sections 96, of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015, section 278 (1)(a) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011, 278 (1) (b), 278(6), of the same law.
Sections 73 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015 and 278 (1) (a) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.
