The Nigerian government has filed another six-count criminal charges against former Managing Director of the Assets Management Cooperation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Lawal Kuru for diverting N20billion public funds.
The charges, which was obtained on Thursday, alleged the involvement of Ahmed Kuru and others in conspiracy and stealing of the Property of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) “through the Heritage bank Limited to the use of SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED for the acquisition of Keystone Bank Limited.”
According to the court documents, the charges filed at the Ikeja Judicial Division of the Lagos State High Court, October 24, 2024 are between Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ahmed Lawal Kuru, Umaru Hamidu Modibbo and Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited as the 1st to 3rd Defendants.
The suit marked REF/95870/2024, was filed by Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa, SAN; Abba Mohammad, SAN, Bilkisu Buhari Bala, Esq, Suleiman I. Suleiman, Esq, Chineye. C. Okezie, Esq, Muhammed Abbas Omeiza, Esq, Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa, Esq, Zeenat Atiku Bala, Esq, Abubakar Salihu Wara, Esq on behalf of the federal government
The offences which bordered on criminal conspiracy, stealing is said to contravene Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
In count three, Kuru and his co-defendants were accused of transferring Property derived from an illegal act with the aim of concealing the illegal origin and to evade the legal consequences contrary to Section 332(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011 and punishable under Section 332(3)
Some of the charges reads:
“AHMED KURU, UMARU HAMIDU MODIBBO, IFIE SEKIBO (AT LARGE) and SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED sometime in 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court dishonestly Converted the total sum Twenty Billion Naira (N20, 000, 000, 000) Property of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria through Heritage bank Limited to the use of SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED for the acquisition of Keystone Bank Limited.
“AHMED KURU, UMARU HAMIDU MODIBBO, IFIE SEKIBO (AT LARGE) AND SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED on the 17th of November, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court transferred the aggrega sum of Ten Billion Naira (N10, 000,000,000) derived directly from an illegal act to wit: stealing with the aim of concealing the illegal origin of the said sum and to evade the legal consequences of your action.”
On count 4, AHMED KURU, UMARU HAMIDU MODIBBO, IFIE SEKIBO (AT LARGE) AND SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED were said to have on the 23rd of November, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Court “transferred the aggregate sum of Ten Billion Naira (N10, 000,000,000) derived directly from an illegal act to wit: stealing with the aim of concealing the illegal origin of the said sum and to evade the legal consequences of your action.
“Count 5: AHMED KURU, UMARU HAMIDU MODIBBO, IFIE SEKIBO (AT LARGE) and SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED on 17th November, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court dishonestly Converted to the use of SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED the total sum Ten Billion Naira (N10, 000, 000, 000) Property of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria through Heritage bank Limited to the use of SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED for the acquisition of Keystone Bank Limited.
“COUNT 6: AHMED KURU, UMARU HAMIDU MODIBBO, IFIE SEKIBO (AT LARGE) and SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED on 23rd November, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court dishonestly Converted to the use of SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED the total sum Ten Billion Naira (N10, 000, 000, 000) Property of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria through Heritage bank Limited to the use of SIGMA GOLF NIGERIA LIMITED for the acquisition of Keystone Bank Limited.”