Defendants get N20 million bail each
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, and four others for allegedly defrauding Arik Airline N76 billion and $31.5 million. Kuru and the other defendants were arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
The other accused are former Receiver Manager of Arik Airline Limited, Kamilu Omokide, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Super Bravo Limited, and Union Bank Plc.
They were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on theft, abuse of office, and stealing by dishonestly taking the property of another. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following their plea, counsel to the first and third defendants, Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), told the court that his clients had filed a bail application, dated November 28 and 29, 2024.
Osipitan urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms. He submitted that the first defendant had no criminal records and that EFCC granted him administrative bail, and he never defaulted.
The senior lawyer also said the defendants had an opportunity to escape but did not. He, therefore, prayed the court to grant bail to the defendants on the liberal terms offered by the anti-graft agency.
The prosecution counsel, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), told the court that he filed a counter-affidavit dated December 2, 2024. He implored the court to dismiss the bail applications, arguing that both defendants were facing grave offences of economic sabotage.
Shittu added that the temptation of the defendants to leave the country was very high. He, instead, suggested that an accelerated hearing should be granted and the defendants’ international passports be seized by the court.
His words: “If my lord decides to be magnanimous to grant them bail, we shall be praying for stringent conditions because we are particular about their attendance in court.”
Also, the second defendant’s counsel, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN), in his motion for bail dated December 6, 2024, urged the court to grant the request for self-recognition.
Shasore informed the court that his client’s bail application was supported by a 17-paragraph affidavit.
After listening to their arguments and submissions, Justice Dada granted them bail in the sum of N20 million each with one surety each in like sum. The judge said the sureties must be gainfully employed and deposed to means of identification.
She further ordered the defendants to submit their international passports to the registrar of the court. The court also directed the defendants to remain in the custody of their respective counsel pending perfection of their bail conditions, before adjourning to March 17 for commencement of trial.
The Guardian
