Innoson boss flown to Lagos in shorts, released on bail
•Released on bail last night
•Senate wades in as Ohanaeze youths, IPOB, Igbo groups condemn arrest
•Say it’s meant to scuttle industrialisation of Igboland
•Workers protest intimidation, harassment of their chairmanBy Clifford Ndujihe, Sunday Nwafor, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Dennis Agbo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu & Chinonso Alozie
ENUGU—
ON a day waves of condemnation trailed his arrest, the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, flew Chairman of Innoson
Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, to Lagos in shorts,
according to one of his aides.
Chief Chukwuma, was however,
released, last night. EFCC which confirmed the release said the Innoson
boss was arrested for alleged tax fraud and forgery.
The agency
flew him to Lagos wearing only shorts and a shirt through Air Peace
flight that left Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, at 1:45pm.
founder and chairman of Nigeria’s automobile company, Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma.
Founder and chairman of Nigeria’s automobile company, Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma.
Chukwuma
was driven in a convoy from the EFCC Enugu office where he was detained
after his forcible arrest at his Enugu residence, Tuesday.
A
staff of Innoson Company said the businessman was neither allowed to
take his bath nor change his wears since he was arrested by the EFCC on
Tuesday morning.
Head, Corporate Communications of Innoson Group,
Cornel Osigwe, in a statement in Enugu, yesterday, maintained that
Chukwuma is not a criminal and was never invited by the EFCC before the
arrest.
Osigwe denied that Chukwuma was being investigated by
the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the commission’s Lagos
office and challenged the EFCC to prove its invitation to Chukwuma which
he failed to honour that necessitated invasion of his residence.
He
also said Chukwuma never jumped any administrative bail or made
attempts at resisting arrest as claimed by the EFCC, adding that “Dr
Chukwuma (OFR) is a law abiding citizen, a public figure and a well
known industrialist of international repute. He couldn’t have been
invited by the EFCC and he would ignore or refuse to honour the
invitation.”
Osigwe further said: “Dr Chukwuma has never had any issues or query from the EFCC recently.
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.”
Why we arrested him — EFCC
We’ve released him, we arrested him for fraud, forgery – EFCC
Meanwhile,
the EFCC, yesterday night, said it had released Chukwuma on bail. EFCC,
in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren,
said it arrested the business man over matters bordering on N1.478
billion fraud and forgery.
The statement read in part: ‘’The
business man who runs a local auto assembly plant was arrested on
Tuesday December 19, 2017 at his Enugu residence, following his refusal
to respond to invitations by the Commission, after initially being
granted administrative bail by the Commission, while his surety could
also not be found.
“Unfortunately the industrialist resisted
arrest and stirred controversy by bringing six truck-loads of thugs to
block the entrance to his Plot W1, Industrial Layout, Abakaliki Road,
Emeni, Enugu, home.
This was after he initially misled the Police
Command by informing them that his home had been invaded by armed
robbers and kidnappers despite the fact that operatives of the
Commission duly identified themselves to policemen guarding his home.
His unruly thugs encircled and manhandled operatives of the Commission who had gone to effect the arrest.
Consequently, a distress call was sent to the Commission’s Enugu Office for reinforcement.
In
all of this, the Commission’s operatives acted with decorum and
civility. No one was manhandled or assaulted by the EFCC team, and not a
single shot was fired, despite the provocation.
Chief Chukwuma
and his brother, Charles Chukwuma (who is still at large), are being
investigated by the Insurance and Capital Market Fraud Section of the
Commission’s office in Lagos over matters bordering on N1,478,366,
859.66 fraud and forgery.
The industrialist, among other infractions, allegedly used forged documents to secure tax waivers.’’
Senators, Igbo groups react
Dr Chukwuma’s arrest drew criticisms from senators and a host of Igbo groups, yesterday.
Igbo
groups that condemned Chief Chukwuma’s arrest included the Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB; Igbo Youth Movement, IYM; Eastern Consultative
Assembly, ECA; Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT; Ohanaeze Youth Council,
OYC; and Igbo National Council, INC.
Indeed, Evangelist Elliot
Ugochukwu-Uko, who is IYM founder, ECA secretary and ILT deputy
secretary, described the arrest of the Innoson CEO as ‘’endless
humiliation of a conquered people’’ noting that the commando style of
the arrest was ‘’causing ripples all over Igboland.’’
He said:
‘’The alleged legal issues he has with a commercial bank is also said to
be in court. The power-show displayed on Tuesday in Enugu by EFCC’s
Ibrahim Magu is a loud statement to the Igbo Nation that we are
perceived as slaves in Nigeria.
The total disregard for the
ongoing court actions and a resort to military era abductions confirm to
all, that Ndigbo remain endangered species in Nigeria.
“To
arrest the greatest employer of labour in Igboland and a genius who has
transformed the economic landscape of this clime, in the area of
automobile manufacturing, in a humiliating manner at his residence in
Enugu, ostensibly over issues with a bank, issues which lawyers are
handling. This is a loud message to the people of Eastern Nigeria of our
status in Nigeria.’’
IPOB
Also, the IPOB, in a statement
by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, condemned
what it described as ‘’ongoing harassment of notable Biafran businesmen
especially those of Igbo extraction by the Nigerian Government and her
security agencies.’’
It said not contented with ‘’the economic
emasculation of the Biafran territories through decades of punitive
policies, the few successful businessmen that made it against all odds
like Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the owner of Innoson Motors is now being
harassed and humiliated publicly by government agencies for three major
reasons: the impotency of political leadership in the East, coupled with
intellectual myopia of the governing class and ongoing policy of
de-industrialisation of the East.
“Had Innoson sited his factory
in Lagos or Kaduna, every possible line of credit would have been
extended to him; and there would be politics of appeasement and sabotage
of collective interest by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF and similar interest
groups.’
‘’Since the emergence of this Buhari regime, Biafrans of
Igbo extraction have been lurching from one persecution to another.
After Operation Python Dance which had the backing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo
leadership and South East governors, the Buhari regime has turned it’s
attention to the destruction of economic interests in the South East
starting with Innoson Motors, in the hope of frustrating the first
indigenous automobile company in West Africa because he opened his
factory in Igboland,’’ it added.
Ohanaeze youths demand Chukwuma’s release
In
its reaction, the Ohanaeze Youth Council, in a statement by Comrade
Obinna Achionye and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, Vice President and Secretary,
demanded the immediate release of the business mogul and described his
arrest as the height of impunity against the Igbo nation and another
move to cripple the economic fortunes of Ndigbo.
The youths
stated that they were worried over the clampdown on Chukwuma without
proper invitation by the anti-corruption agency, warning that there will
be massive protests by Igbo and other ethnic nationalities’ youth
groups in Enugu, Abuja and Lagos, if the businessman was not released
without further delay.
Workers protest
Meantime, hundreds
of workers of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company in Nnewi, protested
the arrest and detention of their chairman by the EFCC.
The workers, who blocked the Uru Umudim Nnewi, Innoson Industrial Layout Nnewi, chanted anti-intimidation and harassment songs.
“Addressing
newsmen, leader of the protesting Innoson workers, Mr. Okwudili Igwemma
said: “Most industrialists and their businesses have gone down because
of what they have gone through in the hand of some banks, most of them
did not get back what they used as collaterals, like lands and
buildings, to borrow money from banks, even when they had repaid the
bank loans, this is not good for the image of Nigerian banks.”
He
recalled that “Chief Chukwuma, last week, unveiled four brand new sets
of vehicles, namely IVM G80, IVM G40, IVM 20 and IVM Granite, and while
delivering his address, said the only way a manufacturing company like
his can succeed in what it is doing to uplift the image of Nigeria is by
government, corporate institution and the public, patronizing and
supporting it.’’
Senate wades in, sets up committee
The
Senate, yesterday, resolved to wade into Chukwuma’s arrest by the EFCC,
following a point of order raised by the Deputy Senate President, Ike
Ekweremadu.
“Yesterday, I got a number of messages indicating
that Mr Innocent Chukwuma was arrested by the EFCC over a transaction
between him and GTB,” Mr. Ekweremadu said: “This morning (yesterday
morning) I made an effort and I spoke with him, his story is straight
forward. He said he was at his house at 5:00 am, Tuesday morning, when
he heard gun shots and he thought they were assassins and so he went
into hiding after about two hours he saw some police and he thought that
help had come.
“So, he came out of his hiding and ran to the
police man who promptly arrested him. As he was trying to find out what
was his offence, they told him when they get to the police station they
will inform him of the offence. As at today, nobody has told him what
the offence is.
“Any person who is arrested and detained should
be informed the reason for his arrest. As I speak, Mr Innoson Chukwuma
is yet to be informed of what led to his arrest or detention but if you
go through the media today, the story is that he is owing GTB. As a
lawyer, I’m at a loss how a transaction between someone and his bank
will inform the EFCC’s arrest.
What Innoson boss told me — Ekweremadu
“The
story he told me is that he is not owing the bank anything, he borrowed
money from the bank which he has since repaid but the bank kept
charging money and withdrawing it from his account. They set up an audit
and the auditor came to a conclusion that they had deducted more than
N500 million, he was insisting on 22 per cent, the bank said they will
pay 7 per cent.
“So, that was where they had the disagreement and
they now went to court and it gave judgement in their favour at the
federal high court and the Court of Appeal and the matter is at the
Supreme Court. The fact that the matter is in court and it was a
commercial transaction gives no room for the intervention of EFCC. I’d
like to appeal to this Senate to ensure that Mr Innocent Chukuwma is
released promptly.”
In his contribution, Sam Anyanwu, Imo-PDP, questioned the Senate’s silence over alleged continued impunity of the EFCC.
“I
want to ask a question. EFCC as it stands today, does it have a
chairman? Because I knew in this chamber, the head of EFCC was rejected
during screening because of poor performance and yet he has been there
as chairman.
“There was a businessman from Imo State that was
killed in EFCC custody. The body is still in the mortuary till today.
These are the kind of things we are seeing in this country, why must we
allow it to continue?
“We have been talking about promoting
made-in-Nigeria goods. This man manufactures vehicles, he has over 5,
000 people in his employment, he has international partners. What are
you projecting before them? That he is a criminal? If we as Senate
allows this to continue, there is nothing else that will ever work.
“We rejected somebody here, yet he is allowed. Are there no other Nigerians who are credible to fight corruption?”
How EFCC official slapped Chukwuma’s wife — Abaribe
Senator
Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abia-PDP, threw the Senate into a rowdy session when
he announced that operatives of EFCC slapped the wife of Mr. Chukwuma.
“Another
incident happened in his house. The wife asked a question; why are you
arresting my husband? What has happened and they slapped her.”
Bwacha Emmanuel, Taraba-PDP, said the perpetrator of such act should be fished out and punished.
“As
a member of this Senate, I sponsored a motion to call for support for
the anti-corruption war but as I listen to this story, if truly the wife
of Innocent Chukwuma was slapped by a member of EFCC, something has to
be done. Somebody must be held responsible, somebody must lose his job.
Otherwise, we’ll be wasting our time here.”
The Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, noted that the EFCC will drag the country into ridicule
if the issue is not addressed promptly.
“As a society, we are all
planning that our country be civilised, I think this does not speak
well of the country. How a private commercial transaction has now become
the focus of the EFCC. I think this area is the focus. Whether he is
owing or not, I think we must be seen protecting the fundamental rights
of citizens. I’ve never seen where FBI interfered between City Bank and
Ford Motors, or the financial crime agency in UK intervenes. We are just
making a mockery of ourselves and we really should be able to do the
right thing.”
The Senate resolved to intervene in the arrest of
Mr. Chukwuma, while mandating its committee on anti-corruption and
financial crimes to investigate the matter and report back in 24 hours
