The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, permission to travel overseas for urgent medical care.
Justice Mojisola Dada ruled that Kuru’s international passport be released to enable him to journey to London, United Kingdom, for treatment.
While the specific illness was not disclosed during the court proceedings, Kuru’s lawyer, Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, SAN designate, informed the court that the ex parte application demonstrated facts indicating “extreme urgency” warranting immediate medical attention.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, raised no objection to the travel request. However, he alerted the court about intelligence reports suggesting that the first and third defendants in the case might be attempting to dispose of aircraft linked to Arik Air, which are part of the ongoing criminal investigation. These aircraft are reportedly located in France.
Shittu expressed concern that the travel application might be used as a cover to facilitate the sale of the planes. He urged the court to maintain the status quo ante bellum preserving the current state of affairs and to carefully consider the application on its merits.
The defendants in the case include:
- Kamilu Omokide, former Receiver Manager of Arik Air (first defendant)
- Ahmed Kuru, former AMCON MD (second defendant)
- Captain Roy Ilegbodu, CEO of Arik Air (third defendant)
- Union Bank of Nigeria PLC
- Super Bravo Limited
Badejo-Okusanya argued that the EFCC’s concerns did not implicate Kuru nor affect his request to travel specifically to the UK, not France. Meanwhile, counsel for Union Bank, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, dismissed the EFCC’s claims as mere speculation, stating no credible evidence was presented before the court and affirming his client’s commitment to ethical conduct.
After hearing submissions, Justice Dada acknowledged the EFCC’s concerns but declined to impose any asset preservation orders, citing a lack of supporting documents to justify such measures.
This case dates back to January 2025, when the EFCC arraigned all five defendants on charges including conspiracy and the alleged fraudulent misappropriation of ₦76 billion and $31.5 million from Arik Air.
Union Bank faced a separate count of making false statements to a public officer, while the other defendants faced charges of theft, abuse of office, and dishonest conversion of property.
All defendants pleaded not guilty and were subsequently granted bail set at ₦20 million each, with one surety of equal amount. The court also ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports to the court registrar pending further proceedings.
The EFCC alleges that in 2011, Union Bank made false representations to AMCON regarding Arik Air’s loan status to facilitate the unwarranted sale of loans and guarantees, resulting in the transfer of ₦71 billion to AMCON.
The commission further accused Kuru, Omokide, and Ilegbodu of fraudulently converting ₦4.9 billion to NG Eagle Ltd in 2022. Additionally, Arik Air’s CEO allegedly misappropriated ₦22.5 million by diverting funds to Magashi Ali Mohammed.
The EFCC also claims the defendants authorized the destruction of an aircraft (tail number 5N-JEA) valued at $31.5 million, an act deemed harmful to Nigeria’s economic stability and Arik Air’s interests.
The charges against the defendants contravene Sections 73, 96, 278(1), and 278(6) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
