SAN FRANCISCO, December 21, (THEWILL) – Innoson Motors has reacted to the arrest and bail granted to its Chairman, Innocent Chukwuma by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) insisting that its Chairman never jumped bail and was never invited by the EFCC as claimed by the Commission.
THEWILL recalls that the business man was arrested by the anti-graft Commission on Tuesday after the EFCC claimed he had refused to honour its invitation.
Following outrage and condemnation of the arrest, the anti-graft agency, on Wednesday, announced that it had released him on the condition of bail.
According to a statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC Spokesman, the Commission alleged that Chukwuma and his brother committed fraud and forgery amounting to N1,478, 366, 859.66 and used forged documents to secure tax waivers.
However, Chukwuma rejected his bail, demanding to know why he was arrested by the EFCC on Tuesday.
“You can’t come and pick me like a criminal only to ask me to go without telling me why you arrested me in the first place,” Chukwuma told operatives of the EFCC.
Reacting to the allegations by the EFCC, Cornel Osigwe, Head Corporate Communications at automobile company, in a statement, faulted the allegations insisting that its Chairman never jumped bail and was never invited by the EFCC as claimed by the Commission.
“Dr Innocent Chukwuma (OFR) was this evening released by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He initially refused to leave their premises because the Commission did not officially communicate to him why he was arrested like a common criminal,” the statement read.
“After carefully reading through the Commissions Press release on their Official Facebook page tonight, we deem it fit to tell Nigerians who has stood and supported Dr Innocent Chukwuma in no small measure during his unjust detention by the EFCC the truth and our own side of the story.
“First and foremost, We reiterate that EFCC’s claim that they invited Dr Innocent Chukwuma (INNOSON) and he refused to honour same invite as false.
“We urge them to show Nigerians dated proof that he was duly invited by the Commission. Dr Chukwuma is a man of impeccable character and a law abiding citizen. He will never disrespect or disregard a constituted authority.
“The Commissions claim that that Dr Chukwuma resisted arrest is laughable. His residence was raided at 5am. They don’t expect him to run out and hand himself to whoever it was that came for him.
“He waited to be sure about the identity of the people that invaded his premises before coming out. Dr Chukwuma has nothing to hide or be afraid of.
“EFCC alleged that Dr Chukwuma hired Six truck-loads of thugs to manhandle operatives of the Commission. This is preposterous.
“The people that invaded Dr Chukwuma’s residence were armed to the teeth. How can people without arms attack fully armed operatives of the commission?
“The supposedly thugs are well meaning Nigerians who are making an honest living from Innoson Group. They merely came to protest and show solidarity to their Chairman who was about being whisked away in a gestapo styled arrest.
“The Commission also claimed no single shot was fired despite the provocation. This is a figment of their imagination. This is a clear deviation from the truth. Innocent protesting workers were teargased. We have images to back up this claim.
“The Commission said Dr Innocent Chukwuma and his Brother Mr Charles Chukwuma is being investigated for forgery. Can they show Nigerians a dated Petition to them and who the petition came from.
“Finally, We would like Nigerians to know that we have a dispute with Guaranty Trust Bank which arose from a business deal that went wrong. This case is on final appeal at the Supreme Court. We won’t want to comment on this because it will be subjudice to do so.
“We implore everyone to wait till The Judiciary which remains the final arbiter to adjudicate and give their judgement in this matter.
“We have been harassed and extremely provoked as a company since this issue arose but we have kept faith in our Legal system.”
