Arrest warrant issued for ex-AMCON boss Kuru, Arik MD Ilegbodu over abuse of office
The former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, was absent in court on Monday, where he was scheduled to face arraignment on six charges related to the alleged theft of property belonging to Arik Air and abuse of office.
Kuru, along with the current MD of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the airline’s receiver manager, Kamilu Omokide, Union Bank plc, and Super Bravo Limited, was due to be arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The complainants in the case are the founder of Arik, Johnson Arumemi, and its shareholders. The petition was signed on their behalf by their legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.
In the first count, Union Bank is charged with making a false statement to a public officer with the intention of causing and/or inducing the 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 ₦71,000,000,000.00 (Seventy-One Billion Naira) to AMCON.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 96 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
In count 2, AHMED LAWAL KURU, Kamilu Alaba Omokide (Receiver Manager of Arik Air Limited), and CAPTAIN ROY ILEGBODU (Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air Limited in Receivership), sometime in 2022 or thereabouts, were alleged to have stolen and fraudulently converted to the use of NG Eagle Limited the total sum of ₦4,900,000,000.00 (Four Billion Nine Hundred Million Naira).
The offence of stealing by fraudulent conversion of the property of another is said to be contrary to Section 278(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
In count 3, it was alleged that CAPT. ROY ILEGBODU, as MD/CEO of Arik Air Ltd in receivership, in May 2024 or thereabouts, stole the sum of ₦22,500,000.00 (Twenty-Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) by fraudulently converting the amount to the use of Magashi Ali Mohammed, property of Arik Air Ltd.
In count 4, it was alleged that AHMED LAWAL KURU, as Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and KAMILU ALABA OMOKIDE, as Receiver/Manager of Arik Air Ltd, being public officers, on 11th July 2019 or thereabouts in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directed an arbitrary act to be done in abuse of the authority of their offices. Specifically, they intentionally and in violation of their functions incorporated a company called NG Eagle Limited, RC Number 1600277, for the purpose of obtaining undue advantage for themselves and/or their cronies.
The abuse of office is contrary to and punishable under Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
In count 5, KAMILU ALABA OMOKIDE, AHMED LAWAL KURU, and CAPT. ROY ILEGBODU, on the 12th day of February 2022 or thereabouts, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being public officers, directed an arbitrary act to be done in abuse of the authority of their offices, with the intention of obtaining undue advantage for themselves and their cronies. Specifically, they intentionally authorized the teardown and destruction of 5N-JEA with Serial No. 15058, valued at $31.5m (Thirty-One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars), an act prejudicial to the economic stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Arik Air Limited.
In count 6, KAMILU ALABA OMOKIDE, AHMED LAWAL KURU, and SUPER BRAVO LIMITED, on the 29th day of November 2023 or thereabouts, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to the use of Super Bravo Limited three (3) 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, all property of Arik Air Limited.
The offence of stealing by dishonestly taking the property of another is contrary to Section 278(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Justice Dada has issued a bench warrant for Ilegbodu and Kuru’s arrest following their absence at today’s trial.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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