As the controversies between the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the founder of Arik Air Limited, Sir Arumemi Johnson regarding the activities of the Receiver Manager of the airline, Mr Kamilu Alaba Omokide FCA, continue, more facts are emerging from the industry over the alleged indebtedness of Sir Arumemi Johnson founder to AMCON.
It would be recalled that Omokide, a Senior Vice President at AMCON is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) based on a petition filed by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN on Arumemi Johnson regarding the activities of the Receiver Manager of Arik Air Limited, Mr Kamilu Alaba Omokide FCA, a Senior Vice President at AMCON on an issue that is clearly before competent courts of law.
Only recently, the Arik founder who we learnt is allegedly heavily indebted to AMCON more than N400billion continue to seek help outside the courts, without showing how he intends to settle the debt.
Some of the companies linked to Sir Arumemi Johnson that cumulatively owe AMCON the alleged humongous amount of over N400billion include Arik Air Limited, Rockson Engineering Limited, Ojemai Farms Limited amongst others.
A reliable industry source with deep knowledge of the issue told our correspondent that most of the issues raised in the petition, are also subject of cases before courts. In addition, the source said court pronouncements have also been made on some of them. He therefore wondered how Sir Arumemi Johnson, whose alleged debt profile is one of the heaviest in AMCON books, who should be the one being investigated, is the one instigating others sponsoring campaigns of calumny against AMCON.
According to the source, “It is strange that he is seeking for other sources of evading justice and repayment. But the fact remains that Sir Arumemi Johnson and his companies owe AMCON over N400billion. This can only happen in Nigeria, and I hope the new administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would address some of these impunities by rich and powerful men in Nigeria.”
“Even though AMCON had indeed, and to a large extent remained civil in all their dealings with Sir Arumemi Johnson, he was alleged to at some points, provided AMCON with proposals and resolution plans that were heavily tainted with lies; only to turn around to claim that the Receiver Manager appointed by AMCON mismanaged N120billion as contained in the said petition”.
It would be recalled that, Arik was allegedly rundown, heavily indebted, under the watch of Sir Arumemi Johnson and was unable to make repayment, before the appointment of the Receiver Manager by AMCON in the first place.
“And do not forget that the appointment of the Receiver Manager by AMCON was carried out in line with the provisions of the AMCON Act (as amended). Therefore, attempts to disparage the Receivership and work of the Receiver Manager with the intention of frustrating his work will not succeed because he is carrying out his legitimate work,” he added.
When our correspondent contacted Jude Nwauzo, Head, Corporate Communications Department of AMCON, Jude Nwauzor, he refused to comment on this development when we contacted him, AMCON had previously through the different public engagements told the public that it would continue to carry out its legitimate responsibility of recovering the huge outstanding debt of nearly N5trillion owed AMCON by the obligors no matter the intensity of the blackmail, misrepresentation of facts, denials, campaigns of calumny, media trials, intimidation, or any other strategy adopted by the obligors to slow down the corporation’s recovery strategy.
