Dare Babalola
The former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru has been cleared to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment.
Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja gave the order in a ruling on Wednesday.
The court ruled that Kuru’s international passport should be released to him to facilitate his trip to the UK.
Although the specific nature of the illness was not disclosed, Kuru’s counsel, Oyinkan Okusanya, informed the court that the application was filed based on facts that necessitated “extreme urgency.”
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wahab Shittu, did not oppose the application but expressed concern over an intelligence report suggesting an alleged plan by Kuru and two other co-defendants to dispose of some of the aircraft belonging to Arik Air, which is central to the criminal case before the court.
He said, “The EFCC has an intelligence report of attempts by the 1st and 3rd defendants to dispose of some of the aircraft associated with Arik Air. We wonder if the travel application is not an alibi to travel and sell some of the aircraft, which are said to be in France.”
He therefore urged the court to rule on the application based on its merit while maintaining the status quo regarding the aircraft.
In response, Badejo-Okusanya argued that the EFCC’s concerns do not pertain to her client, who plans to travel to the UK, not France.
Similarly, counsel to Union Bank, Olalekan Ojo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, dismissed the EFCC’s claim as speculative, stressing that his client is a reputable financial institution not involved in any unethical activity.
Justice Dada, after listening to all submissions, acknowledged the EFCC’s concerns but declined to issue any restraining orders on the assets, citing the absence of any documentary evidence before the court to justify such action.
Kuru faces charges alongside Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Managing Director of Arik Air; Kamilu Omokide, Arik Air’s Receiver Manager; Union Bank Nigeria Plc; and Super Bravo Limited.
The EFCC had arraigned the five defendants in January on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, theft, abuse of office, and fraud involving N76bn and $31.5m, allegedly syphoned from Arik Air.
