Reprieve for Ahmed Kuru, ex-AMCON boss in over N130 billion Arik Airline fraud

Admin I Thursday, December 12, 2024

 

IKEJA, Lagos –  Reprieve came the way of Mr. Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, following the decision of a Domestic and Special Offences Court to set aside bench warrant issued against him for failing to show face in court in alleged N76 billion and $31.5 million, totalling over N130 billion fraud in Arik Airline.

Recall that AMCON took over Arik Airline over its indebtedness to banks and it  was during this process that the alleged fraud was committed.

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 officer 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 motion on notice filed by his counsel, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN).

Dada, in her short ruling, set aside the bench warrant in view of the second defendant’s presence in court and adjourned the case until Jan.20, 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 Dec. 12, had taken an undertaken and assured the court that he would produce his client for arraignment on Jan. 20, 2025 and also made sure that he attended his trial.

EFCC Counsel, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), did not object the application since the counsel to the second defendant had signed an undertaken to produce the defendant for arraignment.

“My lord, if the learned silk is assuring the court that the second defendant will be available on Jan. 20 for his arraignment, we will not be objecting the application.

“We could not contact him the ways others were contacted and his counsel has signed an undertaken that he will produce him, knowing the consequences of the undertaken, the prosecution will not be objecting to the revoke of the bench warrant against the second defendant,” Shittu said.

The court had on Dec. 3 issued a bench warrant against the former AMCON MD, following his absence in court of arraignment.