There was drama at the Arik Air headquarters today as the airline’s Receiver Manager, Kamilu Alaba Omokhide, issued an order to deny Chairman/Founder of the airline, Sir Johnson Arumemi Ikhide, unfettered access to the company so accounts can be rendered and/or returns delivered covering the entire period of the receivership over Arik Air Limited.
The Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa Court on April 1, 2023 had ruled that the first and second defendants Kamilu Alaba Omokhide and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had 14 days to ensure those accounts were rendered, however, the opposite was achieved as security personnel at the gate halted the plaintiff under directive.
Arumemi Ikhide arrived at Arik Air premises around 10.30 Tuesday morning and was not allowed to proceed into the buildings where the 1st and 2nd Defendants were supposed to render account and told the plaintiffs they could not go in. Sir Arumemi Ikhide gets judgement as Court gives AMCON 14 days to render Arik Air’s accounts since 2017 take-over.
The Chief Security Officer of the airline identified as Dapasisi Tom-West said there was an order from above not to allow him access to the premises despite himself knowing of the court ruling.
Arumemi Ikhide who spoke later said they had met with Arik team last Tuesday, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and were promised that the law would be respected only for this new move.
The Airline founder told the CSO that he was not at the premises to cause a melee but to respect the order of the court which granted him access into the premises of the airline.
He said he had a meeting with the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Finance Officer that he would be coming around on Tuesday and that some offices should be reserved for him which they agreed.
He said he was astonished that he was being denied access into the premises. In the ensuing argument, the CSO said he is only answerable to the receiver-manager as one of his employees.
He said, “The receiver manager gave an instruction not to allow you in.
“I am not aware of the court order. We cannot give you access to get into the compound. This is the instruction from above. I’m very sorry that I’m keeping you people under the sun.
“We have the directive to deny you access. I’m obliged to respect the directive from the receiver manager.”
Arik Chairman who spoke with journalists said,” We believe there should be law and order. When they came to take over the airline, they brought a court order and we kept to the court order. We went to court and filed our case, I’m sure you know and the ruling has been issued and the court gave us unfettered access.”
“I was in the Arik Complex today pursuant to the order of the federal high court in the suit no FHC/L/CS/1175/2021 that I should be given unfettered access into my offices in Arik Air offices order to perform my duties with my team. The court having affirmed that notwithstanding the appointment of a Receiver Manager that the organs of Arik Air remain intact and those organs such as the Board and Shareholders must be allowed to function.
“It is because of that that I being chairman of the board came to the office today. Being aware of the service of the order of court on the company and having met the management led by Capt Roy Ilegbodu (CEO) on Wednesday 4th April 2023 with whom I discussed the orders made by the court and I our intentions to adhere strictly to including the orders of court to be given office spaces. We both agreed that the orders of Court must be obeyed. We agreed that I and my team will resume this morning 11th April 2023 to my greatest surprise and shock I was barred entry by the CSO, Mr Tom West who claimed that he has strict instructions of the Receiver Manager Mr Kamilu Omokide to deny me and my team access contrary to the orders of court.”
The Chairman later left the premises and proceeded to the MMA Domestic Airport Division of the Nigeria Police Force where he filed a statement and explained that the CSO said he can only answer the police invitation by 3pm.
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