A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), after his failure to appear before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday. Kuru, along with others, is accused of involvement in a fraudulent scheme amounting to ₦76 billion and $31.5 million.
Justice Mojisola Dada ordered Kuru’s arrest following his non-appearance for a scheduled arraignment brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Kuru faces charges alongside Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Managing Director of Arik Air, the airline’s receiver manager, Kamilu Omokide, Union Bank Plc, and Super Bravo Limited.
The six-count indictment includes allegations of false statements, fraudulent conversion, abuse of office, and dishonest appropriation of property. Prosecutors contend these actions contravene multiple provisions of Lagos State’s criminal laws.
While other defendants were present, Kuru was absent and initially unrepresented. EFCC counsel Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN) noted Kuru’s repeated failures to comply with bail conditions, accusing him of evading service and cutting off communication. “Someone who is a former MD of AMCON is not supposed to behave that way,” Shittu told the court, urging the judge to take decisive action.
Justice Dada granted Shittu’s request, issuing the warrant and declining a plea from a lawyer who later appeared on Kuru’s behalf, asking for the order to be rescinded. The judge insisted the warrant would remain in place until Kuru appears in court, adjourning the case to January 20, 2025, for arraignment.
The allegations against Kuru, a figure once tasked with managing Nigeria’s distressed assets, have drawn significant attention, raising questions about accountability and corporate governance in the nation’s financial institutions.
