The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, permission to travel to London, United Kingdom, for urgent medical treatment.

Justice Mojisola Dada, in her ruling, ordered the release of Kuru’s international passport to facilitate the trip, following an application made by his counsel, Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, SAN-designate.

Naijaonpoint reports that though the nature of the illness was not disclosed, Badejo-Okusanya had earlier informed the court that the application warranted “extreme urgency.”

EFCC Raises Red Flag Over Alleged Plan To Dispose Of Aircraft

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wahab Shittu (SAN), did not oppose the application but raised concerns about an intelligence report allegedly linking the 1st and 3rd defendants in the case to plans to dispose of aircraft associated with Arik Air, which forms the core of the criminal matter.

“The Commission has intelligence suggesting the 1st and 3rd defendants are planning to sell some of the aircraft, some of which are believed to be in France. We wonder if this travel request is not a cover to facilitate that,” Shittu told the court.

He urged the judge to maintain the status quo ante bellum and assess the application strictly on merit.

Counsel Denies Link To Aircraft Sale Allegations

Responding, Kuru’s lawyer, Badejo-Okusanya, argued that the EFCC’s alarm was not directed at her client and should not affect his travel request to the UK, not France.

Similarly, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), counsel to Union Bank, described the EFCC’s submission as “mere speculation”, insisting there was no documentary evidence before the court to support the claims.

“Union Bank is a responsible corporate body and would not engage in unethical dealings,” Ojo said.

Justice Dada acknowledged the EFCC’s concerns but declined to issue restraining orders, stating there was no document before the court justifying such an order.

Naijaonpoint recalls that in January 2025, the EFCC arraigned five defendants, Kamilu Omokide (former Receiver Manager of Arik), Ahmed Kuru, Captain Roy Ilegbodu (CEO of Arik Air), Union Bank, and Super Bravo Limited, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, theft, and fraud.

While Union Bank faces a count of making false statements to a public officer, the other four defendants were arraigned for allegedly defrauding Arik Air of ₦76 billion and $31.5 million, involving claims of abuse of office, dishonest conversion, and economic sabotage.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty, and Justice Dada granted them ₦20 million bail each, with one surety in like sum. The court also directed them to submit their international passports.

Details of EFCC’s allegations

The EFCC had alleged that in 2011, Union Bank made false claims about Arik Air’s performing loans to AMCON, which led to the sale of Arik’s loan portfolio and a ₦71 billion transfer to the corporation.

In 2022, the EFCC said Kuru, Omokide, and Ilegbodu fraudulently transferred ₦4.9 billion to NG Eagle Ltd, and Captain Ilegbodu allegedly diverted ₦22.5 million to a third party, Magashi Ali Mohammed.

The Commission further accused the defendants of causing undue economic harm by authorising the teardown of aircraft 5N-JEA, serial number 15058, valued at $31.5 million, a move it described as prejudicial to Nigeria’s economic stability.

The offences, according to prosecutors, contravene Sections 73, 96, 278(1) and 278(6) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.