An Ikeja Special Offences Court has set January 20, 2025, for the arraignment of Ahmed Kuru, the former managing director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), alongside four other defendants, over allegations of N76 billion and $31.5 million fraud.
Kuru will be arraigned alongside Roy Ilegbodu, managing director of Arik Air; Kamilu Omokide, receiver manager of Arik Air; Union Bank Nigeria Plc; and Super Bravo Limited.
The case follows a petition filed by Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on behalf of Johnson Arumemi, the founder of Arik Air, and the airline’s shareholders. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Union Bank allegedly made false statements to AMCON about Arik Air’s loans and bank guarantees, leading to the transfer of N71 billion to AMCON.
The EFCC further accused Kuru, Omokide, and Ilegbodu of diverting N4.9 billion for the operations of NG Eagle Limited in 2022 and unlawfully incorporating the company to gain undue advantages. Additionally, they are alleged to have authorised the destruction of an aircraft valued at $31.5 million on February 12, 2022.
At a previous session on December 3, Kuru failed to appear in court, prompting the trial judge, Mojisola Dada, to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. However, during Thursday’s session, Kuru’s counsel, Olasupo Shasore, signed an undertaking assuring the court that his client would be present for arraignment on the new date.
Prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, did not object to the arrangement. “If the learned silk is assuring the court that the second defendant will be available on January 20 for his arraignment, we will not be objecting to the application,” Shittu said.
Following the assurances, Justice Dada set aside the bench warrant and adjourned the matter.
