Forgery: Court Adjourns Ruling on Arrest of Innoson Motors Boss, Chukwuma

Ladipo Sanusi/

Hearing in the suit seeking the arrest of Innocent Chukwuma, Chief Executive Officer of Innosson Motors, has been adjourned till May 22.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had filed a warrant of arrest against Chukwuma and his company, Innosson Motors Nigeria Limited, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for their continued failure to appear before the court to answer to allegations of forgery.

When hearing resumed in the matter today, the court called the attention of the prosecutor, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye, to the letter written by Chukwuma’s counsel, Mr. Macharty Nbadugha, seeking for an adjournment on the ground that he is appearing at the Appeal Court on another matter.

In the said letter, Mbadugha had had urged the court to adjourn the matter till May 20, when he will be available in court.

But Ajakaiye and other defence counsels objected to the date and suggested May 22.

Justice Ayotunde Faji, consequently, adjourned the matter till May 22.

The federal government through the AGF had filed a criminal charge of forgery against Chukwuma, his company and four others. His co-accused are, Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Annajekwu Sunny.

The AGF in the charge marked FHC/L/565C/2015 alleged that all the accused persons, between January, 2010 and April 2011, at Apapa Wharf, Lagos, conspired amongst themselves to wit, falsification of shipping documents which they deposited with Mitsui Osk Lines Lagos, which was used as collateral for the purpose of clearance of raw materials polyinlchloride (PVC), for the production of roof ceiling and other imported item

In the four counts amended charge, filed before the court by Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice Mohammed Saidu Diri, it was alleged that Innoson Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma, Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Annajekwu Sunny between January, 2010, and April 2011, at Apapa Wharf conspired amongst themselves to wit, falsification of shipping documents which they deposited with Mitsui Osk Lines Lagos, which was used as collateral for the purpose of clearance of raw materials polyinlchloride (PVC) for the production of roof ceiling and other imported items.

The accused persons were also alleged to have without lawful authority and with intent to defraud, utter the shipping clearance documents to the shipping Line Mitsui Osk Lines which was used as collateral for the purpose of obtaining a loan of N2.4 billion from Guaranty Trust bank Plc for the purpose of clearing raw materials Polyvinylchloride (PVC) for the production of roof ceiling and other imported items

They were further alleged to have falsely and fraudulently represented as genuine, the uttered shipping documents and presented same to Guaranty Trust bank Plc to obtain a loan of N2.4 billion.

The alleged offences according to the prosecution are contrary to and punishable under sections 3(6),1(2)(C) of the miscellaneous offences Act Cap. M 17 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

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