The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 6-count criminal charges against several individuals and organisations, including former Managing Director of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Lawal Kuru, and the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The charges, according to reports, alleged their involvement in the mismanagement of funds belonging to Arik Air Limited totalling a staggering 125billion.
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.
Union Bank was accused in one of the charges ‘of making false statement to 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 sometimes in 2011 or thereabout, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, “with the intention of causing and/or inducing 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) to AMCON”.
Ahmed Kuru, Kamilu Alaba Omokide, as Receiver Manager of Arik Air Limited and Captain Roy Ilegbodu Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air Ltd. in Receivership, were accused of fraudulently converted to the use of NG Eagle Ltd. the total sum of N4.9 billion, property of Arik Air Ltd., 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, “steal the sum of N22.5 million by fraudulently converting same to the use of Magashi Ali Mohammed property of Arik Air Ltd,” an offense 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 for the purpose of obtaining undue advantage for yourself and or cronies”.
The offense 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 undue advantage for yourself and cronies an arbitrary act, to wit: intentionally authorizing the tear down 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 Ltd. three (3) Boeing aircrafts, known as Manufacturer Serial Number 33944 Registration Number 5N MJG; Manufacturer Serial No: 35638, Registration Number 5N MJN and Manufacturer Serial Number 34761 Registration Number 5N MJE, properties of Arik Air Limited”.
The offences are said to be contrary to Section 278(1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
It was learnt from top sources familiar with the trial that Kuru inherited 19 aircrafts, but only three are left.
