Victoria Tokolo
A Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos today has been told how former Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Ahmed Kuru, allegedly diverted N4.9billion from the defunct Arik Airline Limited to established NG Eagle Airlines.
This was revealed by Bawa Usman Kaltungo, an Investigative Officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, when he was being led in his evidence-in-chief by the lead prosecution counsel Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN.
Kuru is standing trial alongside Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, and Super Bravo Limited before the court presiding by Justice Mojisola Dada.
According to Kaltungo, the statement of former Chief Financial Officer of Arik, Mr. Jonathan Sani exposed how the defendants taken the sum of N4.5b from Arik airline to fund NG Eagle which belong to the defendants.
The witness alleged that other defendants: Omokide and Ilegbodu conspired with Kuru to moved N4.9b from Arik to established their own airlines named NG Eagle.
Beside taken cash from the Arik airline assets, Kaltungo further spoke on how the defendants transferred staffers of the Arik to NG Eagle.
He told the court that NG Eagle was established by Mr. Kuru when he was serving as the MD AMCON and Mr. Omokide was the Receiver Manager of AMCON.
He further said payment of workers salary and other expenses of the newly formed NG. Eagle was the responsibility of the Arik Air Limited.
“The statement of the Chief Financial Officer of the Arik Air Limited Mr. Jonathan Sani shows how Arik money was used to fund and established NG. Eagle.
The court during the proceedings admitted a certified ex-parte order marked as P17.
According to him “It is the investigation report my lord, our findings was based on documentary evidence recovered during investigation.”
Other exhibits tendered and admitted as exhibits and were marked P18, P25, P26, P44 and P45; one of which included photographs and flash drive containing video of vandalised aircraft were played in court.
Meanwhile, the second and defendants counsel applied for reliefs for the second and third defendants to have their passport released to them for renewal and for medical purposes.
The judge granted the release and ordered that their passports should be returned to the court’s registry latest on January 2nd, 2026.
Justice Dada thereafter adjourned the trial to earlier scheduled date, and January 2 and 3, 2026 for continuation of trial.
