The former Managing Director of the Assets Management Cooperation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Lawal Kuru, is yet again implicated in an alleged N125 billion fraud regarding the taking over of Arik Air Limited.
This time, the AMCON boss is said to have conspired with the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and others to perpetrate the fraud.
Given this, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed six-count criminal charges against Ahmed Lawal Kuru, and the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The charges alleged their involvement in the mismanagement of funds belonging to Arik Air Limited totalling a staggering N125 billion.
The charges filed at the Ikeja Judicial Division of the Lagos State High Court, October 29, 2024 is between Federal Republic of Nigeria as Complainant and Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Ahmed Lawal Kuru, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Super Bravo Limited as the 1st to 5th Defendants.
The charges which bordered on criminal conspiracy, stealing, false information and abuse of office were filed by the EFCC on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the charge sheet, Wahab Shittu, SAN, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Yinka Olatunji Esq, Don Akaegbu Esq, Osalusi Oluyemi Victor Esq, Jalaolu Adeniji Esq, Wole Ariyibi Esq and W. K. SHITTU SAN & CO. are the EFCC Prosecution Counsel.
One of the charges against Union Bank was making a false statement to a public officer with intent contrary to and punishable under Section 96 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
According to the charges, the bank was said to have some time in 2011 or thereabout, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, “with the intention of causing and/or inducing the unwarranted sale of Arik Air loans and bank guarantees with Union Bank, made false statements to the Assets Management Cooperation of Nigeria (AMCON) regarding Arik Air Limited’s performing loans following which you transferred a bogus figure of 71,000,000,000.00 (Seventy- One Billion Naira) top AMCON.”
Ahmed Lawal Kuru, Kamilu Alaba Omokide as Receiver Manager of Arik Air Limited and Captain Roy Ilegbodu Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air Limited in Receivership, were accused of fraudulently converting to the use of NG Eagle Limited the total sum of N4.9 billion, property of Arik Air Limited, an offense said to be contrary to Section 278(1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Capt. Roy Ilegbodu as MD/CEO of Arik Air Ltd in receivership, according to the charge was accused of sometime in May 2024, “stealing the sum of N22.5 million by fraudulently converting same to the use of Magashi Ali Mohammed property of Arik Air Ltd,” an offence contrary to Section 278 (1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 and punishable under Section 278(6) of the same Law.
EFCC further accused Ahmed Lawal Kuru as Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Kamilu Alaba Omokide as Receiver/Manager of Arik Air Ltd, as public officers, on 11th July, 2019, 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 to obtain undue advantage for yourself and or cronies.”
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Other charges partly read: “That you, Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Ahmed Lawal Kuru And Capt. Roy Ilegbodu on the 12th day of February 2022 or thereabout, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court being public officers directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office and with intention of obtaining an undue advantage for yourself and cronies an arbitrary act, to wit: intentionally authorizing the teardown and destruction of 5N-JEA with Serial No. 15058 valued at $31.5M (Thirty-One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars), an arbitrary act, which act is prejudicial to the economic stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Arik Air Limited.
“That you, Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Ahmed Lawal Kuru, and Super Bravo Limited on the 29th day of November 2023 or thereabout in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to the use of Super Bravo Limited three (3) Boeing aircrafts known as 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 property of Arik Air Limited.”
The offences are said to be contrary to Section 278(1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Sources informed this newspaper that Kuru inherited 19 aircraft but only three are left.
“Regarding the charges against Kuru on Arik Air, it involves the mismanagement of N125billion. He and others inherited 19 aircraft from Arik Air but only 3 are left,” the source said.
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