Mr. Chris Ndulue, Managing Director, Arik Air

Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Sunday Punch of today, April 8, 2012 suggesting that Arik Air has been taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

There is no iota of truth in this story and it was just another malicious publication against Arik Air by The Punch newspaper. The story is at best a figment of the writer’s imagination and a show of irresponsible journalism by the newspaper.

The Managing Director of AMCON, Mr. Mustafa Chike Obi, who was quoted in the Punch’s story, has in a statement this morning, strongly condemned the publication. In his statement to Punch, the AMCON MD said he was disappointed with Punch’s journalistic standards. He also described the piece as “completely false and baseless story about Arik and AMCON”.

“You texted me late last night for a confirmation which you did not receive as I was already asleep and yet you went ahead with this ridiculous story on your front page,” Mr. Obi said in his statement to the Punch.

Arik Air would therefore like to assure its esteemed guests that its daily flight operations are going on without any hindrance.