Kemisola Oye
JUSTICE Mojisola Dada of a Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the arrest of the former Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Lawal Kuru following his absence in court for his arraignment over alleged Seventy-Six Billion Naira (N76,000,000,000.00) fraud.
The court had scheduled today for Kuru’s arraignment along with the Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the receiver manager of Arik, Kamilu Omokide, Union Bank Plc and a company, Super Bravo Limited, for alleged N76 billion and $31.5 million fraud.
The defendants in the suit are Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Ahmed Lawal Kuru, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Super Bravo Limited as the first to fifth defendants, respectively.
At the resumed proceeding, the prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN); and defendants’ counsel, Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) for the first and third defendants; Olalekan Ojo (SAN) for the fourth defendant; Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for the 5th defendant and I.B. Amefula appeared for the second defendant who also held the brief of Olasupo Sashore (SAN).
Due to the absence of the second defendant, (Kuru) Shittu prayed the court to issue a 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 the second defendant’s absence.
He said the former MD of AMCON had jumped administrative bail granted by EFCC on several occasions.
“In view of the attitude of the second defendant, we urge the court to issue a 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.”
Justice Dada, however, granted prosecution counsel prayer and issued a warrant of arrest against the second defendant (Kuru). The judge held that if he was present on the next adjourned date, she would revoke the order.
The EFCC had filed six counts of charges against the defendants, alleging them of stealing property belonging to Arik Air and abuse of office.
Part of the charge stated that Union Bank made a false statement to a public officer with the intention of causing and/or inducing unwarranted sale of Arik Air loans and bank guarantees with Union Bank, making false statements to the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) regarding Arik Air Limited’s performing loans following which it transferred a bogus figure of Seventy-One Billion Naira (N71,000,000,000.00) to AMCON.
The anti-graft agency said their offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 96 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Also, the alleged offence is said to be contrary to sections 73 and 278(1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
EFCC further alleged that the defendants: Kuru, Kamilu Alaba Omokide as Receiver Manager of Arik Air Limited and Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air Limited in receivership, sometimes in 2022 or thereabout, stole and fraudulently converted to the use of NG Eagle Limited the total sum of N4,900,000.00.
The MD/CEO of Arik Air Limited in receivership, in May 2024 or thereabout, did steal the sum of N22,500,000.00 by fraudulently converting same to the use of Magashi Ali Mohammed property of Arik Air Limited
Kuru and Omokide were alleged of been public officers on 11 July 2019 or thereabout in Lagos, directed to be done in abuse of the authority of their offices an arbitrary act, to wit: intentionally and in violation of the discharge of their functions incorporated a company called NG Eagle Limited, RC Number 1600277 for the purpose of obtaining undue advantage for themselves and or cronies.
Parts of the charge read that, “Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Ahmed Lawal Kuru and Captain Roy Ilegbodu on 12 February 2022 or thereabout, in Lagos, being public officers directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office and with intention of obtaining undue advantage for yourself and cronies an arbitrary act, to wit: intentionally authorising the teardown and destruction of 5N-JEA with Serial No. 15058 valued at $31.5 million, an arbitrary act, which act is prejudicial to the economic stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Arik Air Limited.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media