The anti-graft agency,
EFCC, has filed fraud charges against Innoson Motors and its embattled
chairman, Innocent Chukwuma.
The third defendant in
the suit is Mr. Chukwuma’s brother, Charles.
The four-count charge
is dated November 30, and filed at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja
Division.
Mr. Chukwuma was
arrested by the EFCC at his residence in Enugu on Tuesday morning. He was then
transported to Lagos where he was granted bail on Wednesday night.
His arrest follows
allegations he forged some documents in a transaction involving GTBank.
Mr. Chukwuma dismissed
the charges in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday, saying the EFCC lacks
professionalism and legal intricacies.
The businessman has
been locked in a long drawn legal battle with GTBank over alleged arbitrary
deductions in his bank account.
The bank accused Mr.
Chukwuma of forging shipping documents to obtain under financial gratification
for himself and his company.
The EFCC charges bordered
entirely on the allegations raised by the bank.
The
four-count included attempt to obtain under false pretense, obtaining under
false pretense, theft and forgery of shipping and financial documents.
All the alleged offences contravene several
extant criminal statutes in Lagos State and are punishable there, court filing
shows.
The EFCC listed 10 witnesses who would support
its case before the court.
The whereabouts of Charles Chukwuma is still
unknown to federal authorities.
It is not immediately clear if a judge has been
assigned to hear the case or when proceedings would commence.
In a response to the development Sunday night,
Cornel Osigwe, a spokesperson for Innoson Group, said the EFCC has become so
incompetent that it now abuses court processes at will.
“This is clearly an abuse of court process,”
Mr. Osigwe said. “It seems like the EFCC does not have intelligent officers
anymore.”
Mr. Osigwe said the EFCC had previously
investigated the complaints which gtbank brought against Innoson in 2012.
“During the investigation, he was invited and
he honoured the invitation. After the investigation EFCC filed a charge against
him at Lagos State High Court. “The charge was subsequently struck out.
“However
Innocent Chukwuma and Innoson Nigeria Ltd. appealed against the order striking
out the case on the basis that it ought to be dismissal in its entirety so that
it will never be filed again.
“The appeal number is CA/l/1330CM/2017 and is,
till date, still pending at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.
“Since then, EFCC never invited him,” Mr.
Osigwe said.
He accused GTBank of instigating the EFCC in
order to divert attention from the damages ruling which Mr. Chukwuma had
procured at different courts, including the Court of Appeal.
A spokesperson for GTBank declined comments
about the claims Sunday night, telling PREMIUM TIMES the matter is already
before the law court.
“In corporate governance standards, an ethical
institution does not comment about a matter that is already before the court,”
said Meksley Nwagboh, GTBank head of corporate communications.
- Premium Times
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