EFCC arrest Innoson’s Chief Executive Officer

Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing ( IVM ) Innoson Group , Dr . Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma

• He has been having financial dealings with GTB, his lawyer says
The Chief Executive of Innoson Technical Manufacturing Company , Enugu , Chief Innocent Chukwuma was yesterday arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) over alleged undisclosed financial crime.

Chukwuma was apprehended about 11 : 30 a . m . at his Government Reserved Areas ( GRA) , Enugu residence by armed police officers .

Being aware of his impending arrest , several trucks belonging to his company had been used to block the three entrances leading into his Savage Crescent residence GRA, witness said . The development caused gridlock as road users meandered through the adjourning streets

Those who operated businesses around the area could not access their offices. Few hours later , armed EFCC officials stormed the area , and began to fire teargas .

The situation caused passersby to scamper for safety . Confirming the incident , EFCC ’ s Media Officer in Enugu , Mr . Chris Oluka , said he did not know why the auto manufacturer was arrested .

“ They brought him to our office and have taken him to Lagos . Nobody has told us why he was picked but I believe it will be made known in due time , ” he said .

As at the time of filing the report , attempts were still being made to free the blocked entrances to ease movement of people , vehicles among others.

Meanwhile , Chukwuma ’ s lawyer , Mc Carthy, said his principal has been having problems with GTB, which has resulted into debiting his account to millions of naira in excess charges .

He said : “ Innoson commenced a law suit against GTB and got judgement of N4 . 7 bn at Federal High Court Awka in 2013 .

GTB appealed against the judgement on December 9 , 2014 , but the court ordered it to pay the money into an interest- yielding account of the Deputy Registrar , Court of Appeal, Enugu . The money has amounted to N5 . 9 bn. GTB appealed to the Supreme Court , but Innoson again got a judgement against customs at Ibadan on December 2010 amounting to N2 . 4 bn. In 2011 Innoson traced the Customs money in GTB and got order absolute from which the court ordered it to pay . It appealed the judgment again which was struck out .

The court asked GTB to pay the judgement fee of N2 . 4 bn to Innoson. GTB also appealed the judgment , citing that he got the judgment through fraud but the application was dismissed this 2017 . Innoson filed a case against GTB for N400 bn for malicious persecution and defamation . ”

According to Mc Carthy, GTB found out it is difficult for Innoson to forgo the judgement sum , and later accused him of obtaining fake customs documents . The case is still pending in court .

“ Now GTB has gone to EFCC on the same matter and today , the agency stormed his residence , used tear gas on Innoson and his workers and till now , they are still being kept and we are yet to hear from them, ” said Mc Carthy.

A source close to the bank told The Guardian he had no hand in whatever Innoson Company was passing through , as the matter was already in court .

He , however , disclosed that Mr . Chukwuma had refused to appear in court .