Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has has adjourned the trial of former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria [AMCON], Ahmed Kuru, to October 6, 7, and 8, 2025.
Kuru, who was arraigned on February 11, 2025, is standing trial on an amended six counts alongside Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited.
At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, the court ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to serve both the defence and the court with key investigative documents, including the E-statement of Keystone Bank and a report from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The judge’s ruling is considered crucial, as it mandates the prosecution to ensure full disclosure of evidence in the ongoing ₦20 billion fraud case.
While the former AMCON boss pleaded not guilty to the charges, Sigma Golf, through its Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Hamidu Modibbo, entered a guilty plea under a plea bargain arrangement.
Justice Oshodi, in his judgement on the plea bargain, convicted the company and ordered the forfeiture of all its rights and interests in a unit of Keystone Bank shares to the Federal Government.
This is even as the court has ordered the EFCC to provide an investigative report and e-statement of Keystone Bank with the CBN.
Justice Oshodi made the order on Tuesday in the ongoing N20 billion fraud trial involving Kuru.
The judge directed the EFCC to serve the court and the defence with the documents.
The court said the ruling would shape the next phase of the trial, ensuring that the defence had full access to the prosecution’s evidence ahead of further proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that, at the last proceeding, the defence counsel, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), had applied that the prosecution avail the defence with additional proof of evidence.
NAN recalls that Kuru, was arraigned on Feb.11 alongside Sigma Golf Nig. Ltd.
They were both arraigned on an amended six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, stealing, and transfer of property derived from stealing, with the aim of concealing the origin and evading the legal consequences.
While Kuru pleaded not guilty, Sigma Golf, represented by its chairman, Hamidu-Modibbo, entered a guilty plea under a plea bargain deal.
Following the plea bargain, the court convicted the company and ordered the forfeiture of all its rights and interests in a unit of Keystone Bank shares to the Federal Government.
EFCC had stated that the defendants and others still at large committed the offences sometime in 2016.
According to EFCC, the defendants conspired to steal by dishonestly converting N20 billion, the property of AMCON, through Heritage Bank Ltd., to the use of Sigma Golf for the acquisition of Keystone Bank Ltd.
The commission also stated that Sigma Golf and the others transferred N10 billion derived directly from the stealing, with the aim of concealing the origin of the said sum and evading the legal consequences. (NAN)
Theresa Arike
