One Mr Kamilu Omokide has been detained by Nigeria’s foremost anti-graft agency, EFCC, over alleged misappropriation and diversion of about N120bn in Arik Nigeria Limited.
Omokide is the Receiver Manager appointed by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria for Arik Air.
It’s gathered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission detained Omokide alongside one Captain Samuel Caulcrick in connection with alleged illegal sale and tearing down of a $41m CRJ 1000 aircraft, which was operated by Arik Air.
The detention of the two top executives followed a petition written by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), who is a solicitor to Arik Nigeria Limited, documents show.
The petition chronicled how there had been alleged financial fraud and sales of assets worth over N120bn.
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 petition listed the details of the alleged diversion of money, sale of assets and misappropriation of funds