Arik Air Trial: Court Admits AMCON Board Documents in Kuru’s Defence

Ranti Thomas 2 hours ago 2 min read

By Rant Thomas

The ongoing trial involving former Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Kuru, has taken a fresh turn after a Lagos Special Offences Court admitted AMCON board resolutions relating to the receivership of Arik Air as evidence.

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja court admitted the documents on Monday, October 26, 2026, after hearing arguments from the defence and prosecution over their relevance to the criminal proceedings.

The development occurred during the continued cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, whose testimony included assertions about Kuru’s authority as AMCON’s former managing director and his alleged role in approving Arik Air’s receivership.

Counsel to Kuru, Uyi Giwa-Osagie, tendered the board resolutions to challenge the suggestion that the former AMCON chief had acted alone in authorising the receivership. The defence argued that the documents could help establish the role of AMCON’s board in the decision-making process.

The prosecution opposed their admission, contending that the documents were too remote to the issues before the court. It maintained that they lacked sufficient relevance to the specific allegations being tried.

Giwa-Osagie countered that the charges against Kuru did not concern the general legality of appointing a receiver but other allegations outlined in the charge sheet. He argued that the board resolutions were important to the defence because they could provide context for the decisions under investigation.

The defence also submitted that the documents were public records and could be tendered from the Bar. After considering the arguments, Justice Dada ruled that the resolutions were relevant and admissible.

In its bench ruling, the court noted that the documents originated from AMCON’s board as a corporate body and had been certified in line with Section 104 of the Evidence Act.

The admission places the board resolutions among the materials the court may consider in determining the issues raised during the trial. It also provides the defence with documentary evidence to support its challenge to the claim that Kuru unilaterally sanctioned the receivership.

However, the ruling was limited to the relevance and admissibility of the documents. It does not amount to a determination of the allegations against Kuru or the other defendants, nor does it establish that the defence’s account has been proved.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the case against Kuru and other defendants following a petition by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana on behalf of Arik Air’s promoters and shareholders.

Those named in the proceedings include Kamilu Omokide, a former receiver-manager of Arik Air Limited; Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the airline’s chief executive officer; Union Bank Limited; and Super Bravo Limited.

The trial is expected to continue on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, with further proceedings and the continuation of the fourth prosecution witness’s cross-examination.