EFCC To Arraign Ex-AMCON Boss Kuru, Others Over Alleged Abuse Of Office

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to bring charges against Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria; Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the current Managing Director of Arik Air; Kamilu Omokide, the receiver manager of Arik; Union Bank plc; and Super Bravo Limited.

Naijaonpoint reports that the individuals will appear before Justice Mojisola Dada at the Special Offences Court located in Ikeja, Lagos, facing a six-count indictment for alleged theft of property belonging to Arik Air and abuse of office.

The complainants in this case are Johnson Arumemi, the founder of Arik, along with its shareholders. Their petition was submitted by their legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.

In the first count, Union Bank is accused of providing false information to a public official with the intent to facilitate an unwarranted sale of Arik Air’s loans and bank guarantees, as well as making misleading statements to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) regarding Arik Air Limited’s performing loans, which resulted in the transfer of an inflated amount of ₦71,000,000,000.00 (Seventy-One Billion Naira) to AMCON.

This offence is alleged to contravene Section 96 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

In the second count, Ahmed Kuru, Kamilu Alaba Omokide, as Receiver Manager of Arik Air Limited, and Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air Limited in Receivership, are accused of stealing and fraudulently converting a total of ₦4,900,000.00 (Four Billion Nine Hundred Million Naira) for the benefit of NG Eagle Limited in 2022 or thereabouts.

The charge of theft through fraudulent conversion of another’s property is said to violate 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 thereabout, did steal the sum of ₦22,500,000.00 (Twenty-Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) by fraudulently converting same 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 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 their in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your offices an arbitrary act, to wit: intentionally and in violation of the discharge of your functions incorporated a Company called NG Eagle Limited, RC Number 1600277 for the purpose of obtaining undue advantage for yourself and or cronies.

The act of abuse of office is in violation of and subject to penalties 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 or about the 12th of February, 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, as public officials, engaged in an abuse of their authority with the intent to secure an undue advantage for themselves and their associates. They committed an arbitrary act by intentionally authorizing the dismantling and destruction of the aircraft 5N-JEA, Serial No. 15058, valued at $31.5 million (Thirty-One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars). This act is detrimental 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 or about the 29th of November, 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully appropriated for the benefit of Super Bravo Limited three (3) Boeing aircrafts identified by 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, which are the property of Arik Air Limited.

The offence of theft through the dishonest appropriation of another’s property is in contravention of Section 278(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.