Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has set aside a bench warrant issued for the arrest of Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Gatekeepers News reports that the bench warrant was initially issued on December 3rd due to Kuru’s nonappearance in court. Justice Mojisola Dada authorised the warrant following a request from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC Counsel Wahab Shittu informed the court that Kuru had violated the terms of an administrative bail granted by the agency and had been uncontactable.
Kuru was expected to face charges alongside several other defendants, including Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Managing Director of Arik Air, Kamilu Omokide, the receiver manager of Arik, Union Bank PLC, and Super Bravo Limited, all implicated in the alleged ₦76 billion and $31.5 million fraud.
The EFCC has filed multiple counts against the defendants, focusing on issues of abuse of office, fraudulent conversion, and making false statements to a public officer. While the other defendants appeared in court, Kuru’s absence resulted in a delay in the proceedings for the others.
After reviewing the situation and listening to an apology from Kuru’s counsel, Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Justice Dada rescinded the bench warrant.
In a short ruling, the judge said, “In view of the attendance of the second defendant in court and the undertaken signed by the learned silk to ensure his attendance in court at any given time and with no objection from the prosecution, the second defendant’s application of motion on notice is hereby granted and the bench warrant set aside.”
The case has been adjourned to January 20, 2025, for the arraignment of all defendants.
In his application submitted on December 12, Shasore assured the court that he would ensure Kuru’s appearance for the arraignment on the specified date. Shittu, representing the EFCC, stated that he had no objections to this arrangement.
“My lord, if the learned silk is assuring the court that the second defendant will be available on January 20 for his arraignment, we will not be objecting to the application.
“We could not contact him the way others were contacted and now that his counsel has signed an undertaken that he will produce him, knowing the consequences of the undertaken, the prosecution will not be objecting to the court revoking the bench warrant against the second defendant,” Shittu said.
