Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has granted former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, and two other defendants temporary access to their international passports to enable them travel abroad for medical treatment
Kuru is standing trial alongside Kamilu Omokide, Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Super Bravo Limited over a six-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendants are facing allegations of conspiracy, stealing and abuse of office involving ₦76 billion and $31.5 million.
According to the EFCC, Union Bank allegedly made false representations to AMCON in 2011 regarding loans owed by Arik Air, leading to the transfer of a ₦71 billion loan portfolio to AMCON.
The commission also alleged that Kuru, Omokide and Ilegbodu diverted ₦4.9 billion belonging to Arik Air to NG Eagle Limited in 2022 while the airline was under receivership.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to Kuru and Ilegbodu, Taiwo Osipitan, asked the court to temporarily release their clients’ passports for overseas medical treatment. Counsel to Omokide made a similar application.
EFCC counsel Wahab Shittu did not oppose the requests but urged the court to ensure an accelerated hearing of the case.
In her ruling, Justice Dada granted the applications and ordered the temporary release of the passports to the affected defendants for their medical trips. The case was adjourned until October 26 for the continuation of trial.
At the previous hearing on June 25, the court admitted a Certified True Copy of a Court of Appeal judgment affirming the legality of AMCON’s appointment of a receiver-manager over Arik Air.
During cross-examination, EFCC witness Bawa Kaltungo maintained that the appellate court’s ruling did not affect the commission’s investigation or change the ownership of Arik Air.
He also admitted that the EFCC did not trace proceeds from the dismantling of an Arik Air aircraft, valued at $31.5 million, to the personal accounts of Omokide or Ilegbodu.
“I have said it before that no money was traced to their personal accounts,” Kaltungo told the court.
