Court Declares Innoson Motors Boss Wanted Over Alleged Fraud
A Federal High Court in Ikeja on Thursday declared the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma wanted for allegedly refusing to appear before the court to answer to allegations of fraud and forgery brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada made the declaration following a request to that effect bu the counsel to the EFCC, Anselem Ozioko, who claimed that the businessman has continued to evade arrest.
The court had before now given the accused person opportunity to appear before it on January17, February 9, March 14 and April 25 but failed to appear before the court.
He was again absence in court on Thursday, despite the fact that his lawyers are always before the court.
The EFCC has filed a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense, obtaining property by false pretense, stealing and forgery against the industrialist and his company.
The commission had also joined his brother, Charles Chukwuma as an accused persons in the charge, which was filed on November 30
According to the first count, the accused, between 2009 and 2011, conspired to obtain by false pretense containers of motorcycle spare parts and raw materials from Mistui OSK Limited, a company based in Apapa, Lagos.
According to the EFCC the alleged offense was contrary to Section 8 (a) and 13 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday Ozioko, who asked the court to declare Chukwuma, wanted noted that, “this appears to be the fifth time this matter is coming up before your Lordship for arraignment.
“The learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the second defendant (Innoson) is still insisting on taking his application without ensuring the defendant is physically present in court.
“The question is, where is the second defendant? Is he too big for the court? Is he too big for the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Is he too big because he has money? Where is he?
“What my learned friends, the defence counsel are doing is contemptuous.
“We shall be applying for an order to declare the second defendant wanted.”
Acceding to Ozioko’s request, Justice Dada said, “The second defendant is hereby declared wanted and the case adjourned until June 22 for possible arraignment.”
Before the court made the order, the EFCC counsel had informed the court that the anti-graft agency will also be taking some steps to ensure Innoson’s attendance in court on the next adjourned date.
Counsel to Innoson, Mr George Uwechue (SAN) had requested that the court hear his application despite Justice Dada’s declaration that no application will be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.
“At the last hearing, the court maintained its position that it will not take any pending application unless the first defendant is arraigned.
“We were about to states our position regarding the court’s declaration but we were interrupted by the prosecuting counsel and that interruption led to today’s proceedings.
“Whatever we did that day, we sincerely apologize; we urge this court to allow us to continue our presentation.’’
Prof. J. N Mbadugha, counsel to Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, in his submission told the court that he had an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
Mbadugha informed the court that he had made an appeal at the Court of Appeal over the case.
Justice Dada however maintained her position that the applications of the defence will not be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.
The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada made the declaration following a request to that effect bu the counsel to the EFCC, Anselem Ozioko, who claimed that the businessman has continued to evade arrest.
The court had before now given the accused person opportunity to appear before it on January17, February 9, March 14 and April 25 but failed to appear before the court.
He was again absence in court on Thursday, despite the fact that his lawyers are always before the court.
The EFCC has filed a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense, obtaining property by false pretense, stealing and forgery against the industrialist and his company.
The commission had also joined his brother, Charles Chukwuma as an accused persons in the charge, which was filed on November 30
According to the first count, the accused, between 2009 and 2011, conspired to obtain by false pretense containers of motorcycle spare parts and raw materials from Mistui OSK Limited, a company based in Apapa, Lagos.
According to the EFCC the alleged offense was contrary to Section 8 (a) and 13 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday Ozioko, who asked the court to declare Chukwuma, wanted noted that, “this appears to be the fifth time this matter is coming up before your Lordship for arraignment.
“The learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the second defendant (Innoson) is still insisting on taking his application without ensuring the defendant is physically present in court.
“The question is, where is the second defendant? Is he too big for the court? Is he too big for the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Is he too big because he has money? Where is he?
“What my learned friends, the defence counsel are doing is contemptuous.
“We shall be applying for an order to declare the second defendant wanted.”
Acceding to Ozioko’s request, Justice Dada said, “The second defendant is hereby declared wanted and the case adjourned until June 22 for possible arraignment.”
Before the court made the order, the EFCC counsel had informed the court that the anti-graft agency will also be taking some steps to ensure Innoson’s attendance in court on the next adjourned date.
Counsel to Innoson, Mr George Uwechue (SAN) had requested that the court hear his application despite Justice Dada’s declaration that no application will be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.
“At the last hearing, the court maintained its position that it will not take any pending application unless the first defendant is arraigned.
“We were about to states our position regarding the court’s declaration but we were interrupted by the prosecuting counsel and that interruption led to today’s proceedings.
“Whatever we did that day, we sincerely apologize; we urge this court to allow us to continue our presentation.’’
Prof. J. N Mbadugha, counsel to Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, in his submission told the court that he had an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
Mbadugha informed the court that he had made an appeal at the Court of Appeal over the case.
Justice Dada however maintained her position that the applications of the defence will not be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.