The Chairman/Managing Director of the Innoson
Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), Chief Innocent Chukwuma, has dragged the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court, demanding N200
billion for unlawful imprisonment, malicious falsehood and defamation.
In a statement made available to journalists through
his spokesperson, Mr. Cornel Osigwe, on Tuesday, the automobile manufacturer said the law
suit was in response to his unlawful arrest and subsequent release by the EFCC
fortnight ago.
The statement indicated that Chukwuma in the
lawsuit which was filed at the Enugu State High Court by Prof Joseph N Mbadugha
of McCarthy
Mbadugha and Co, is claiming against EFCC; N30 billion
exemplary damages; N30 billion for assault and battery; N30 billion for unlawful
imprisonment; N40 billion for injury to feelings-mental pains and anxiety
arising from malicious falsehood and defamatory publications of the defendants
against the plaintiffs; N50 billion for injury to plaintiff’s reputation arising
from the said publications; N20 billion for general damages.
He also asked for an order that the published words
complained of be retracted by the defendants and such retraction be published
in two national newspapers including the Punch newspapers.
The IVM owner also asked the court for an order of
perpetual injunction restraining the defendant either by itself, agents, privies,
and/or assigns from further maligning or otherwise defaming
the plaintiffs in the words complained of or
similar words and/or in other manner howsoever.
“An order that 22 percent interest on the sums of
money claimed in sub-paragraphs (a)-(f) commencing from December 20, 2017, till
judgement is delivered and a post judgement interest of 22 percent on the judgement
sum till the final satisfaction of the judgement debt.
Furthermore, Innoson has set machinery in motion
for a N50 billion suit against EFCC, GTBank and three others for breach of his
fundamental rights.
The EFCC had claimed in a statement on its official
website that the arrest of Chukwuma “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.” EFCC further alleged that “the industrialist used
forged documents to secure tax waivers.”
Chukwuma had maintained that “at no time did Chukwuma
(Innoson) receive an invitation or was invited by the EFCC or was there any
time he jumped an administrative bail granted by the EFCC.
“Innoson is a public figure and a well-known
industrialist of international repute. There is no way he would be invited by
the EFCC and he would ignore or refuse to honour it.
“Innoson has never had any issue or query from the
EFCC of recent. The last issue Innoson had with EFCC was an invitation extended
to him in
2012 based
on a complaint against him by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB). Innoson honoured this
invitation and subsequently, EFCC filed a charge against him at the Lagos High
Court.
“The charge was subsequently struck out. However,
Innocent Chukwuma and Innoson Nigeria Limited appealed against the order
striking it out on the basis that it ought to be dismissal and not striking out.
The appeal no: CA/I/1330Cm/2017 is still pending at the court of appeal Lagos
State. Since then, EFCC has never invited him.”
He said his ‘unlawful’ arrest and detention caused
untoward injury and damages to his person, personality, reputation and loss of
business interest from his prospective business partners amounting to millions
of dollars.
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