The fourth prosecution witness, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, Director at the Lagos Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has told a Lagos Special Offences Court that no proceeds from the teardown of aircraft 5N-JEA, valued at approximately $31.5 million, were traced to the personal accounts of the defendants.

 

Kaltungo disclosed this during the continuation of cross examination in an ongoing trial before Justice Mojisola Dada.

The EFCC is prosecuting former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru; former Arik Air Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu; former Receiver-Manager, Kamilu Omokhide; Arik Air Limited; and Super Bravo Limited on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and fraudulent handling of the airline’s assets.

 

Under cross-examination by Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), counsel to Kuru and Ilegbodu, Kaltungo reiterated that the commission’s investigation did not establish any direct financial benefit to the defendants from the aircraft teardown.

 

“I have said it before that no money was traced to their personal accounts,” the witness told the court.

 

The teardown of aircraft 5N-JEA remains central to the prosecution’s case, with the EFCC alleging that the dismantling was carried out unlawfully and against the interest of Arik Air.

 

However, the defence presented documents which it argued showed that the aircraft owner had authorised the teardown.

 

Kaltungo challenged the authenticity of the documents, maintaining that the purported authorisation letter was not issued on the company’s official letterhead.

 

In further defence, counsel tendered a Certified True Copy of a Court of Appeal judgment which reaffirmed the legality of AMCON’s appointment of a Receiver-Manager for Arik Air.

 

The appellate court ruling overturned an earlier decision relied upon by Arik Air founder, Sir Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, to challenge the receivership arrangement.

 

According to the defence, the judgment validated both the appointment and the actions taken by the Receiver-Manager in managing the airline’s affairs.

 

Additional documents admitted in evidence included a Federal High Court judgment involving Captain Samuel Caulcrick and Cargo Airlines Limited, who were reportedly engaged by the aircraft owners to carry out the teardown.

 

The defence argued that the judgment further weakened the prosecution’s claim that the dismantling of the aircraft was unlawful.

 

On the issues relating to the establishment of NG Eagle airline. The court admitted documents showing AMCON board resolutions authorising and ratifying the airline’s establishment, including the transfer and allotment of shares.

 

Kaltungo also conceded that the first and third defendants did not derive any pecuniary benefit from transactions linked to NG Eagle.

 

After listening to the witness, Justice Dada adjourned the matter to July 7, 2026, for the hearing of an interlocutory application filed by the second defendant.

 

The court also fixed October 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2026, for continuation of trial.