Kemisola Oye
A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Thursday, set aside a bench warrant issued against the former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Ahmed Kuru, who is slammed with alleged involvement in Arik Airline N76 billion and $31.5 million fraud.
Other defendants are former Receiver Manager of Arik Airline Ltd, Kamilu Omokide, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank Ltd and Super Bravo Ltd.
The five defendants were to be arraigned on alleged theft, abuse of office, making false statements to public officers and stealing by dishonestly taking the property of another, proffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Mojisola Dada set aside the bench warrant against the second defendant following his presence in court on Thursday and sequel to a Motion on Notice filed by his counsel, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN).
Justice Dada, in her short ruling, set aside the bench warrant in view of the second defendant’s presence in court and adjourned the case till 20 January 2025, the earlier scheduled date for arraignment.
“In view of the attendance of the second defendant in court and the undertaken signed by the learned silk to ensure his attendance in court at any given time and no objection by the prosecution, the second defendant’s application of Motion on Notice is hereby granted and the bench warrant set aside,” the judge said
Earlier, Shasore, in his Motion on Notice dated 12 December, had made an undertaking and assured the court that he would produce his client for arraignment on 20 January 2025 and also ensure that he attended his trial.
EFCC counsel, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), did not object to the application since the counsel to the second defendant had signed an undertaking to produce the defendant for arraignment.
“My lord, if the learned silk is assuring the court that the second defendant will be available on 20 January for his arraignment, we will not object to the application.
“We could not contact him the ways others were contacted and his counsel has signed an undertaking that he will produce him, knowing the consequences of the undertaking, the prosecution will not object to the revocation of the bench warrant against the second defendant,” Shittu said.
The court had, on 3rd December 2024, issued a bench warrant against the former AMCON MD following his absence in court for arraignment.
Eighteen-Eleven Media