From Chuks Moses, Awka
The Innoson Group has reacted sharply to the invasion of its headquarters in Enugu in a gestapo-like fashion this morning shooting into the air as if they came to pick a notorious criminal, while seizing the Group’s executive chairman, Dr Innocent Chukwuma.
Chukwuma himself has said from detention that a bank was allegedly using EFCC to intimidate him over a financial transaction, which he got a court judgment in his favour.
In a press statement signed by Innoson’s Head Corporate Communications, Mr Cornel Osigwe, it noted that “Our attention has been drawn on a tweet by EFCC on its official twiiter handle claiming that the gestapo kind of arrest of Dr Innocent Chukwuma (OFR) today at his Enugu residence was because he didnt honour an invitation from the commission sent to him.
“This claim by the commission is not factual and it tends to mislead the public and bring the personality and character of Dr Innocent Chukwuma to disrepute. Hence we want to state the true position so as to inform the general public the truth about this matter.”
It noted that “EFCC never at any time invited Dr Innocent Chukwuma either in writting or through any other means. We are aware that EFCC investigated GTB complaint against Innoson in 2012.
“During the investigation he was invited and he honoured the invitation. After the investigation EFCC filed a charge against him at Lagos State High Court.
“The charge was subsequently struck out. 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 organization noted with dismay that despite his arrest, Dr Chukwuma was not and has yet to be intimated of his offence, even after several requests to know.
The outcry was, according to the company to let the public know that Dr Chukwuma, a distinguished citizen of Nigeria, an industrialist, employer and philanthropist of no mean repute who has over the years garnered so many corporate, community, philanthropic and international awards for distinguished services to humanity and society including established Federal Government agencies, was being mistreated in a purely private matter.
Earlier, the EFCC in a statement told its part of the story: “A well known industrialist, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, popularly known by his company’s name, INNOSON, has been arrested by the EFCC. He was picked up at about 11am at his Savage Crescent, GRA Enugu residence on Tuesday, December 19, 2017.
“His arrest followed his refusal to honour invitation by the commission having earlier jumped an administrative bail granted him in a case being investigated by the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the commission’s Lagos office.
“Chukwuma, rather than honour the invitation by the EFCC, mobilised six truckloads of thugs pretending to be staff of his company to his residence, where they manhandled EFCC operatives.
“It took reinforcement from the Enugu office of the EFCC to arrest the industrialist who is currently being grilled by a team of investigators.”
