I’ll follow up this case to logical conclusion – Innoson vows

Automobile guru and Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, has arrived his Enugu home where he was given a heroic welcome by well-wisher.

Chief Chukwuma who was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, after being arrested by the commission over a business dispute between him and GT Bank, however thanked Nigerians for standing by him during his trials.

Innoson, as he is popularly known by his company name, particularly thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as the President’s belief in the rule of law just as he equally thanked Governors, legislators, traditional rulers, the media and everybody who condemned his arrest.

In a statement he gave on Thursday, Chief Innoson however maintained that his arrest was illegal and promised to tell Nigerians the full story behind his dispute with GT Bank.

He also vowed to follow up to logical conclusion his alleged investigation by the EFCC, maintaining however that he would cooperate with the commission to ensure that he clears his name which he said had been badly damaged by the incident.

According to the statement, “May I use this opportunity to express my gratitude to fellow countrymen who stood by me in this period of my Illegal arrest by EFCC.

“Firstly, I want to thank Mr President, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his believe in the rule of law. I thank also the various State Governors who condemned my illegal arrest and fought to see my release.

“I also thank the distinguished members of the National Assembly for their support in voicing out my illegal arrest, the traditional rulers across the divide from the North to the South, your support and contribution to my release is well noted. Thank you.

“To all the Media organizations, various human rights groups, the youths, the #FreeInnoson social media crusaders and everybody who gave a voice to condemn my illegal arrest, thank you all.

I still maintain that my arrest was illegal, as there was never a period that EFCC under the leadership of Ibrahim Magu invited me for any reason. In due time, I will tell Nigerians the whole truth about this matter. I intend to work faithfully with the EFCC on this alleged investigation so as to clear my name which has been badly damaged, and I will follow up this so called investigation to its logical conclusion.

Once again, thank you my fellow Nigerians, with this high level of support and love showered on me during this period of my travail, I reiterate my strong resolve on the robust industrialization project of our dear nation, which will make her truly great again. I thank you all once more for your support.

Recall that EFCC which had confirmed both his arrest and later release had also said that Chief Chukwuma was arrested for alleged tax fraud and forgery.

The agency had flown him to Lagos wearing only shorts and a shirt through Air Peace flight that left Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, at 1:45pm before releasing him.

Chukwuma was driven in a convoy from the EFCC Enugu office where he was detained after his forcible arrest at his Enugu residence, Tuesday.

How the issue started – Innoson group

The last issue he had with EFCC was an invitation extended to him in 2012 based on a complaint against him by Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, which he duly honoured. “Upon completion of investigations, EFCC requested him through a letter to pay some money to GTB, saying the money was what Innoson owed GTB after it, EFCC, deducted excess charge of about N560 million, which GTB illegally and unlawfully took from their account.

‘’Innoson rejected the demand, maintaining that it was GTB that was owing him and that GTB is to pay interest on the excess and unlawful charges.

‘’This resulted in a stalemate between Innoson and EFCC. Consequently, Innoson commenced a lawsuit against GTB at Federal High Court in suit No: FHC/AWK/139/2012 at Federal High Court Awka division and, thereafter, got a judgement in its favour in the sum of N4.7 billion against GTB.

“As a consequence of the above, EFCC filed a charge against him at Lagos High Court. The charge was subsequently struck out after EFCC filed a notice of discontinuance. ‘’However, Dr Innocent Chukwuma and Innoson Nigeria Ltd appealed against the order striking out the case on the basis that it ought to be dismissed and not struck out.

‘’The appeal, no: CA/I/1330Cm/2017, till date, is still pending at the Court of Appeal, Lagos State. Since then, EFCC has never invited Dr Chukwuma again. Challenge to EFCC “We challenge EFCC to show proof and evidence of EFCC invitation extended to Dr Chukwuma, the various dates of the invitation and the letter of invitation extended to him.

‘’We further challenge EFCC to also show proof of how and when Dr Chukwuma jumped an administrative bail granted to him. “EFCC also claimed that Dr Chukwuma is being investigated by the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the commission’s Lagos office. We equally challenge EFCC to show proof of this investigation.

‘’On whose petition is this investigation being carried out and proof of any letter on this investigation ever written to Innoson from this unit, stating also the month and year. “The commission’s being economical with the truth by stating that Dr Chukwuma mobilised six truckloads of thugs pretending to be staff of his company to his residence, where they manhandled EFCC operatives.

‘’The truth available at our disposal is that some factory workers on hearing that their boss was being arrested, mobilised themselves to his residence to protest what they said was an illegal arrest.

“However, the EFCC operatives together with the Police team, fired tear gas and dispersed them. We have pictures to back up our claim. At no point did these factory workers manhandle the armed EFCC and Police officials at his residence. This is pure falsehood aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Dr Innocent Chukwuma.

“EFCC as a law-abiding organisation and a strong advocate of rule of law as constantly shown and practised by its Head, led by Ibrahim Magu, should allow the court processes to reach their logical conclusion.

‘’Dr Chukwuma’s case against GTB is already at the Supreme Court. We have absolute faith in the Nigeria judiciary. They should be allowed to adjudicate over this matter without undue interference from any quarters, he said.”

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