EFCC detains AMCON official in connection with the N120 billion Arik Air fraud

Mr. Kamilu Omokide, the Receiver Manager chosen by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria for Arik Nigeria Limited, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of fraud and diversion involving around N120 billion.

According to information obtained by Sources, the EFCC apprehended Omokide and a Captain Samuel Caulcrick in connection with the suspected illicit sale and dismantling of an Arik Air-operated $41 million CRJ 1000 aircraft.

According to documents received on Friday, the two top executives’ incarceration was in response to a plea filed by human rights attorney Femi Falana (SAN), who also serves as a counsel for Arik Nigeria Limited.

The petition described the alleged financial crime and the disposal of assets totaling more than N120 billion.

The petition, addressed to the EFCC Chairman, and dated April 27, read, “We are solicitors to Arik Nigeria Limited (hereinafter referred to as “our client”), on whose behalf and specific instructions we write you. Our client operates an airline in the aviation industry by offering air transportation services for passengers and cargo in Nigeria and has been in business since 2006.

“In compliance with an ex parte order of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria appointed a receiver manager to manage our client’s assets due to its financial obligation to some banks.

“Pursuant to the said ex parte order, the said receiver manager has been overseeing the affairs of our client’s assets pursuant from 2017 to date. In the course of running the airline business the receiver has engaged in financial mismanagement, diversion of monies, sales of assets and misappropriation of funds belonging to Arik Airline.

The allegations of money misappropriation, asset sales, and money diversion were described in detail in the petition.