, Seeks Arrest Warrant Suspension
Olasupo Shasore, SAN, the counsel representing Ahmed Lawal Kuru, the former Managing Director of Assets Management Cooperation of Nigeria (AMCON), has written to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the letter, Shasore undertakes to produce Kuru in court on the next adjourned date, and appealed that the bench warrant issued against him be suspended.
SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that the EFCC filed six-count criminal charges against several individuals and organisations, including Ahmed Lawal Kuru, and the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The charges which SaharaReporters obtained on Tuesday, alleged their involvement in the mismanagement of funds belonging to Arik Air Limited totalling a staggering N125billion.
The charges filed at the Ikeja Judicial Division of the Lagos State High Court, October 29, 2024 is between Federal Republic of Nigeria as Complainant and Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Ahmed Lawal Kuru, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Super Bravo Limited as the 1st to 5th Defendants.
SaharaReporters, however, gathered that Kuru was absent in court during their the arraignment on Tuesday, December 3. Consequently the trial judge issued a bench warrant against him.
However in a letter through his law firm, Africa Law Practice NG & Company, to the Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukayode, dated December 3, Shasore undertook to produce his client in the next adjourned date for his arraignment.
In the letter titled: “Charge No: ID/24942C/2024 Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Kamilu Alaba Omokide & 4 ORS. Undertaking to Produce the 2nd Defendant In Court”, Shasore explained why his client wasn’t in court, while appealing that the execution of the bench warrant issued against him be suspended.
The letter, SaharaReporters obtained on Wednesday evening, partly read: “We are counsel to Mr. Ahmed Kuru charged as the 2nd Defendant in the above charge (our Client) and we write in respect of the above subject.
“We understand that the above charge is now pending before Hon. Justice M.A. Dada of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja and came up today, 3 December 2024 for arraignment.
“At the day’s proceedings, we were initially absent in court, as we had not received notice of the scheduled date. Furthermore, our client had not been served with the Information/Charge. Upon learning of the arraignment, we promptly appeared in court to explain our initial absence and the lack of notice. However, we were informed that the Court had, at the Prosecution’s application, issued a bench warrant against the 2nd Defendant due to his absence,” he explained.
He added, “We duly explained our Client’s absence and reiterated our position that neither we nor our Client had been informed of the adjourned date. Additionally, we undertook to ensure our Client’s presence in court on the next adjourned date for his arraignment.
“The Court, however, noted that the enforcement of the bench warrant rests with the Prosecution/the Commission and could be suspended by the Prosecution based on our undertaking.
“In view of the foregoing, we Unequivocally Undertake to produce our Client in court on the next adjourned date and respectfully request that you suspend the execution of the bench warrant.”
The letter was copied to the EFCC Prosecution Counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN.