Forgery allegations have emerged in the ongoing Arik Air fraud trial at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, raising
questions about the authenticity of key defence documents.The trial, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, involves
former officials of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), including ex-Managing Director Ahmed Kuru, former
Executive Director of Credit Mohammed Abbas Jega, and others. They are accused of defrauding Arik Air of approximately
₦76 billion and $31.5 million. The controversy centers around a document presented by the defence, purportedly an
indemnity agreement between Union Bank and Arik Air. During cross-examination, Mohammed Abbas Jega testified that he
could not have authored the document, as it was dated 2009, while he was appointed to AMCON in 2010. He stated, “That
document cannot be mine. Whoever signed it before then must have forged my name.” The defence counsel for the fourth
defendant, Jega, accused the prosecution witness of bias and partisanship in favor of Arik Air. Lead prosecutor Dr. Wahab
Shittu, SAN, objected to this accusation, citing Sections 228 and 229 of the Evidence Act, describing the remark as
“offensive, injurious, and professionally unbecoming.” Justice Dada intervened, admonishing the counsel for overstepping
ethical boundaries and reminding him of the proper conduct expected during cross-examination. The trial has attracted
significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the substantial sums involved. The allegations of forgery
and the subsequent challenges to the authenticity of key documents have added complexity to the proceedings, potentially
influencing the outcome of the case.As the trial continues, stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation and financial sectors are closely
monitoring developments, given the potential implications for corporate governance and legal accountability in the country.
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