The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has given the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), 14 days to reinstate the N60bn fraud charges against former Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Managing Director, Mr. Ahmed Kuru, or face legal action.
In a petition signed by its Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, and made available to The PUNCH on Sunday, the anti-corruption and human rights organisation warned that it would petition the Nigerian Bar Association’s Disciplinary Committee for alleged abuse of office and pursue “other local and international legal remedies” if the AGF fails to act.
“It is alarming that the Attorney-General of the Federation would seek to discontinue a case clearly instituted under the Criminal Law of Lagos State,” Suraju said.
“Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution does not empower him to interfere in state matters; that power lies exclusively with the Attorney General of Lagos State under Section 211,” he said.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja, had on July 24, 2025, struck out a N60bn fraud case against Kuru after the AGF, through the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar, filed a notice of discontinuance.
But HEDA, in its petition, argued that the AGF acted outside his constitutional powers, citing the Supreme Court decision in FRN v. Osahon (2006) 5 NWLR (Pt. 973) 361 and the earlier case of State v. Ilori (1983) 1 SCNLR 94.
“Criminal defence is an opportunity for the accused to clear his name, not a political shield from justice,” HEDA stated.
“Allowing the case to proceed is in the best interest of justice, especially since Mr. Kuru’s co-defendant has already admitted guilt, entered a plea bargain, and forfeited proceeds of crime to the EFCC,” HEDA said.
The organisation reminded the AGF of a similar failed attempt by his predecessor, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to discontinue a corruption case against John Abebe, an in-law to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2018.
“Back then, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), now a Special Adviser in the AGF’s office, opposed the move and persuaded Justice Dada not to grant it,” the petition noted.
HEDA reaffirmed its commitment to “the fight against corruption, the defence of human rights, and the pursuit of justice in Nigeria,” vowing to resist any political interference in criminal justice administration.
Last week, the AGF said the withdrawal of the charges was not political.
Speaking in Akwa Ibom State last Thursday, Fagbemi said the charges were withdrawn because there was no evidence against Kuru.
“In the case of Ahmed Kuru, what happened was that he was not connected; there was nothing to try him for. What was involved was an investment in the name of AMCON. Both the principal and the interest were recovered by the EFCC. It was not in any individual’s name. So, what offence has been committed?” he said.
He added, however, that Kuru still had other pending cases.
“Don’t forget, there are two other cases. There was one involving about N5bn, involving another person, whose name I cannot remember now.
For that one, because we believe that there is what I would call a prima facie case, we said it should continue.
“There’s another one against Kuru in relation to his activities as either a manager or so, in Arik Airline. That one, I also found that there are some questions to be answered. In other words, we have a prima facie case against him there, and I ordered that one should continue,” Fagbemi disclosed.
