Alleged N76billion Arik Fraud Case: Avoid Misrepresentation Of Facts In Covering Court Proceedings – Justice Dada To Journalists

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, today admonished the media, especially the ones covering proceedings in her court, to report the facts, and not be carried away by emotions and sentiments that are crafted not just to deceive the public, but make a nonsense of media reporting in the country.

Justice Dada was reacting to a complaint brought to the attention of the court by Mr M. Enitan Esq. Counsel representing the second defendant in the ongoing alleged N76billion fraud case where Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director/CEO of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is being tried alongside Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank Plc, and Super Bravo Limited over an alleged fraud involving N76bn and $31.5m, linked to the defunct Arik Air, in receivership.

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Mr Enita had brought to the attention of the Court the misrepresentation of the previous day’s court proceedings by some sections of the media, and sought that the Court cautions, and or admonish the journalists that cover proceedings in this trial.

Although the Court recognised the right of judicial correspondents to cover proceedings in Court, the presiding Judge noted that, much as the Court will not stop journalists from carrying out their legitimate duty of informing the public, such reportage must be based on facts, which in the media’s parlance is a sacred instrument in journalism.

Earlier in the day, the matter progressed with the continuation of the examination-in-chief of the Prosecution Witness Number 4 (PW4), Mr Usman Bawa Kaltungo of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Led in evidence by Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN, the lead Prosecution Counsel, Kaltungo, reading from a document already admitted before the Court, tried to persuade the Court that relevant regulatory obligations were not complied with by AMCON, and its appointed Receiver Manager in the course of the intervention in Arik, when indeed he had earlier testified before the same Court that AMCON intervention was a directive from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to the 28th and 29th of April, 2026, and 18th and 19th of May 2026 for continuation of the hearing.

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