The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today, Monday, January 20, 2025 arraigned a former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, and four others for allegedly defrauding Arik Airline N76 billion and $31.5 million. Other defendants in the case are former Receiver Manager of Arik Airline Ltd, Kamilu Omokide, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, and Super Bravo Ltd and Union Bank plc.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a six-count charge bordering on theft, abuse of office and stealing by dishonestly taking the property of another.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the six counts when they were read to them.
The counsel to the first and third defendants, Prof Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, informed the court of a motion for bail application dated November 28, 2024 and November 29, 2024 for the two defendants. Osipitan prayed the court that the defendants be granted bail on liberal terms. According to him, “the first defendant had no criminal records and that the EFCC granted him administration bail which he didn’t jump.”
EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, filed counter-affidavits dated 2 December 2024 against the first defendant and also another counter affidavits dated December 22, 2024 against the third defendant. Shittu prayed the court to dismiss their bail applications.
According to him, the two defendants are facing serious offences of economic sabotage. However, he agreed with the second and third defence counsel that they are presumed innocent pending the determination of the court. Shittu , however, added that the temptation of the defendants leaving the country was very high.
After listening to the arguments from all the parties, Justice Dada granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N20 million naira each with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be gainfully employed and deposed to means of identification. She also directed that the defendants must submit their international passports with the registrar of the court.
Justice Dada adjourned the matter till March 17, 18, and 19, 2025 for commencement of trial.