The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has approved a request from the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment.
Justice Mojisola Dada, who presided over the case, ruled on Wednesday that Kuru’s international passport be released temporarily, allowing him to travel to London, United Kingdom, for medical attention. Although the details of his illness were not disclosed, Kuru’s lawyer, Oyinkan Okusanya, told the court that the application was based on circumstances of “extreme urgency.”
While not opposing the application, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wahab Shittu, raised concerns over an intelligence report alleging a plan by Kuru and another defendant to dispose of aircraft belonging to Arik Air — assets central to the criminal trial. Shittu questioned whether the travel request was a pretext to facilitate this alleged plan, particularly as some aircraft were said to be in France.
However, Okusanya clarified that Kuru was seeking permission to travel only to the UK, not France. Olalekan Ojo, representing Union Bank — another defendant in the case — dismissed the EFCC’s claims as speculative and unsupported by evidence.
Justice Dada, after hearing submissions from all sides, acknowledged the EFCC’s concerns but ruled that there was no compelling evidence to justify any restraining order. She granted Kuru permission to travel, maintaining the current bail conditions.
Kuru is the second defendant in a six-count criminal case filed by the EFCC in January 2025. Other defendants include Kamilu Omokide (former receiver manager of Arik Air), Roy Ilegbodu (CEO of Arik Air), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, and Super Bravo Limited.
The EFCC alleges the defendants conspired to defraud Arik Air of N76 billion and $31.5 million through theft, abuse of office, and making false statements. Union Bank is accused of submitting misleading information in 2011 to induce AMCON to acquire Arik’s loans, resulting in a N71 billion transaction.
The EFCC also claims Kuru and others fraudulently diverted N4.9 billion to NG Eagle Ltd in 2022 and accused Ilegbodu of diverting N22.5 million to an individual associated with Arik Air. One of the charges involves the unauthorised teardown of an aircraft allegedly worth $31.5 million.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty and were earlier granted bail in the sum of N20 million each, with the condition that they surrender their passports to the court. The alleged offences are in violation of Sections 73, 96, 278(1), and 278(6) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015
