Alleged N76bn, $31.5m Fraud: AMCON Ex-Director Denies Signing Arik Air, Union Bank Loan Deal, Alleges Document Irregularities

Kuru

By JUMOKE SANNI

The third prosecution witness, PW3, Abbas Jega, a former Executive Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), in the ongoing trial of Mallam Ahmed Kuru, a former Managing Director of AMCON, and four others over an alleged N76 billion and $31.5 million fraud, has told Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos that he was not among the signatories to the loan purchase agreement between Union Bank of Nigeria and Arik Air.

Kuru, alongside Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, Managing Director of Arik Air; Kamilu Omokide, Receiver Manager of Arik Air; Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; and Super Bravo Limited, is standing trial on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and abuse of office involving N75 billion and $31.5 million.

Under cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo,SAN, counsel to the fourth defendant, Jega questioned the authenticity of the signatures on the agreement.

He noted that the two individuals said to have signed the document were professionals of the highest standards.

“Therefore, I disagree that they signed the agreement the way it’s shown to me,” he said.

Jega also pointed out irregularities in the pagination, noting that the document began with page 8.

“I doubt if my colleagues could have signed this agreement,” he said.