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Tag: Innocent Chukwuma

  • Foundation’s lecture to honour activist

    Foundation’s lecture to honour activist

    CLEEN Foundation, with Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Foundation, announces the second annual memorial lecture in honour of the late Innocent Chukwuma.

     Holding today in Abuja, the event delves into the theme: “The Power of One: Dreams & Nightmares: Thoughts on Innocent Chukwuma,” exploring his commitment to realisation of dreams.

     CLEEN’s Executive Director, Gad Peter,  said Chukwuma, remembered as a visionary leader and advocate for justice and human rights, continues to inspire with his legacy of dedication to the marginalised and oppressed.

     Keynote speaker, Rev Matthew Kukah, Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, will share anecdotes and insight on how individuals can leverage power to effect change in the world.

     The theme underscores significance of individual agency in shaping a fair and equitable society. Through engaging discussions and reflections on Chukwuma’s life, the organisers aim to inspire commitments to social justice and human rights advocacy.

     “We are excited to host this  edition with such inspiring theme.

    Read Also: Remembering Innocent Chukwuma

     “We believe everyone possesses the potential to create change, and we hope this event will empower society to pursue their dreams relentlessly,” Peter said.

     The event is open to the public, welcoming all who share the vision of a more just and equitable world. Attendees are encouraged to join in honoring Innocent Chukwuma’s memory and advancing his legacy.

  • Federal Government urges court to order Innoson chairman’s arrest

    The Federal Government yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to issue a bench warrant against Innoson Nigeria Limited’s Chairman Innocent Chukwuma and two of his employees.

    They were charged with alleged fraud before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

    The police charged them with an alleged N2.4 billion shipping fraud, but the Attorney-General of the Federation later took over the matter.

    Others named in the charge are: Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.

    The prosecution is praying the court to order the arrest of Innoson Motors Chairman and his workers for failing to take their pleas in a criminal charge.

    Chukwuma and his employees were not in court yesterday.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye, moved an application for the court to order the arrest of the defendants.

    The lawyer said the charge was served on them through a court-ordered February 8, 2016 substituted service, following the AGF’s take-over of the matter.

    Read also: GTBank, Innoson rift over alleged court judgement deepens

    He said since then, the third and fourth defendants had been coming to court, while the first, second and fifth defendants “have refused, failed and neglected to appear in court till date”.

    Ajakaiye said the defendants were yet to take their pleas and should be compelled to appear.

    The lawyer added that an April 12, 2016 amended charge could not be served on the absent defendants.

    He urged the court to grant his application by ordering their arrest.

    But defence counsel – Chief George Uwechue (SAN) and Prof. C. Mbadugha – prayed the court to dismiss the application.

    They argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the warrant against the defendants “because they were not properly before the court”.

    The lawyers said the application contradicted Order 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, adding that there was no proper service on their clients.

    The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to unlawfully falsify shipping clearance documents.

    They were also accused of “uttering” (presenting) the allegedly falsified shipping documents as collateral to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to allegedly obtain a loan of N2.4 billion.

    The Federal Government claimed that the defendants committed the offence at Apapa Wharf, Lagos, on October 10, 2013.

    The alleged offence is contrary to sections 1(2) (c) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Justice Faji adjourned till July 3 for ruling.

  • FG to Court: order arrest of Innoson boss, two staff

    The Federal Government Monday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to issue a bench warrant for Innoson Nigeria Limited’s chairman Mr. Innocent Chukwuma and two of his employees.

    They were charged in a fraud case before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

    The Police charged them with an alleged N2.4billion shipping fraud, but the Attorney-General of the Federation later took over the case.

    Others named in the charge are Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.

    The prosecution is praying the court to order the arrest of Innoson Motors Chairman and his staff for failing to turn up to take their plea in the criminal charge.

    Yesterday, Chukwuma and his staff were absent.

    Prosecuting Counsel Mr. Julius Ajakaiye moved an application urging the court to order the absent defendants’ arrest.

    He said the charge was served on them through a court-ordered February 8, 2016 substituted service following the AGF’s take-over of the case.

    Read Also: Court rejects certificate forgery suit against Bindow

    Ajakaiye said since then, the third and fourth defendants had been coming to court, while the first, second and fifth defendants “have refused, failed and neglected to appear in court till date”.

    Consequently, he said the defendants were yet to take their plea and should therefore be compelled to appear.

    He added that an April 12, 2016 amended charge could not be served on the absent defendants.

    Ajakaiye urged the court to grant his application by ordering their arrest.

    But defence counsel Chief George Uwechue (SAN) Prof. C. Mbadugha prayed the court to dismiss the application.

    They argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the warrant against the defendants “because they were not properly before the court”.

    They said the application offends Order 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, adding that there was no proper service on their clients.

    The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to unlawfully falsify shipping clearance documents.

    They were accused of “uttering” (presenting) the allegedly falsified shipping documents as collateral to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to allegedly obtain a loan of N2.4billion.

    The Federal Government claimed that the defendants committed the offence at Apapa wharf on October 10, 2013.

    The alleged offence is contrary to sections 1(2) (c) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Justice Faji adjourned until July 3 for ruling.

  • Breaking: Court declares Innoson motors chairman wanted

    Justice Mojisola Dada of the special offences court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday declared the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma wanted over his failure to make an appearance in court for his arraignment for the fifth time.

    Chukwuma, alias Innoson is standing trial in a matter between his company and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Dada had declared the automobile boss wanted, granting the request of Mr Anselem Ozioko, the lead prosecuting counsel of the EFCC.

    Innoson had previously failed to make an appearance in court for his arraignment on Jan. 17, Feb. 9, March 14 and April 25.

    His failure to appear before the court for five consecutive times informed the issuance of bench warrant.

    During the proceedings of March 14, it was revealed that Innoson had petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over Justice Mojisola Dada, the judge trying the case.

    Ozioko in his submission seeking the declaration of Innoson wanted said: “This appears to be the fifth time this matter is coming up before your Lordship for arraignment.

    “The learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the second defendant (Innoson) is still insisting on taking his application without ensuring the defendant is physically present in court.

    “The question is where is the second defendant? Is he too big for the court? Is he too big for the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Is he too big because he has money? Where is he?

    “What my learned friends, the defence counsel are doing is contemptuous.

    “We shall be applying for an order to declare the second defendant wanted.”

    Acceding to Ozioko’s request, Justice Dada said, “The second defendant is hereby declared wanted and the case adjourned until June 22 for possible arraignment.”

    Earlier, during the proceedings, Ozioko had informed the court that the anti-graft agency will also be taking some steps to ensure Innoson’s attendance in court on the next adjourned date.

    Counsel to Innoson, Mr George Uwechue (SAN) had requested that the court hear his application despite Justice Dada’s declaration that no application will be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.

    “At the last hearing, the court maintained its position that it will not take its pending application unless the first defendant is arraigned.

    Read Also:Innoson Motors boss Chukwuma shuns court third time

    “We were about to cite our position regarding the court’s declaration but we were interrupted by the prosecuting counsel and that interruption led to today’s proceedings.

    “Whatever we did that day, we sincerely apologize; we urge this court to allow us to continue our presentation.’’

    Prof. J. N Mbadugha, counsel to Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, in his submission told the court that he had an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

    Mbadugha informed the court that he had made an appeal at the Court of Appeal over the case.

    Justice Dada however maintained her position that the applications of the defence will not be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.

    Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd., are to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretences, obtaining property by false pretences, stealing and forgery.

    According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

    The EFCC alleged that the defendants with intent to defraud; conspired to obtain by false pretences containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, property of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) from Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, Apapa, Lagos.

    They are alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them via their clearing agents the goods which were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorised by the bank to clear the goods.

    The prosecution claimed that the defendants in order to facilitate the fraud forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mutsui O.S.K Lines by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.

    The alleged forgery was in order that the forged documents be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.

    The offences contravened Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

    NAN.

     

  • N2.4bn fraud: Court awaits Supreme Court’s decision on Innosson

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday adjourned until June 27 for the Supreme Court’s decision in the trial of Innosson Nigeria Ltd for a N2.4 billion suit over alleged falsification of shipping documents.

    The Federal Government had through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) filed a four-count charge bordering on forgery against Innosson and four others before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

    Listed as accused are: Innosson Nig. Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma, Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines ‘C’ and Anajekwu Sunny.

    The accused were alleged to have conspired to commit the offences on Oct. 10, 2013 at Apapa Wharf, Lagos.

    When the case was called on Tuesday, only one of the accused, Maximum Chukwura, was present in court.

    Mr J. I. Ajakaiye announced appearance for the prosecution, Mr George Uwechue (SAN) appeared for the first and second accused,

    Prof. J. N. Mbadugha, appeared for the third and sixth accused, while Mr Olusola Abimloye is for the fourth and fifth accused.

    Addressing the court, Mbadugha informed Justice Faji that the position at the Supreme Court remained the same as the pending appeal had not been heard.

    He said he had also applied that the case should be given accelerated hearing.

    In his reaction, Justice Faji asked if the prosecution as well as other defence counsel had been served with the application and Mbadugha replied in the negative. (No)

    The court then held that it was wrong for defence counsel not to have served other parties with his application, adding that counsel cannot address the court “ex parte” (without notice to other parties).

    On his part, the prosecutor, (Ajakaiye) informed the court that the facts of the case were not as stated by defence counsel.

    According to the prosecutor, the appeal was entered at the Supreme Court on Feb. 28 and by the court’s rules, the appellant ought to have filed his written brief within 10 weeks.

    He said he was at the apex court on May 18 to look out for developments, but discovered that nothing had been done on the appeal which the defence had left pending.

    The prosecutor added that the defence’s act was aimed at stalling progress of the case, noting that prosecution has filed an

    application to dismiss the appeal and that same had been served on the defence.

    Meanwhile, counsel to fourth and fifth accused, (Abimloye), has told the court that he had an innocuous application, seeking to dispense with the appearance of the fourth accused, who had always been present in court.

    But Justice Faji held that he could not take the application since there was already an appeal seeking a stay of proceedings before his court.

    In a short ruling, the court held that the manner with which defence counsel (Mbadugha) was handling the appeal was not in conformity with the provisions of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which supports speedy trial.

    He held that criminal matters takes priority, adding that counsel must do all he could to avoid the notion that the court’s process was being abused.

    Again, in view of the pending appeal, the court again adjourned the case until June 27 for a report of proceedings at the Supreme Court.

    The prosecution alleged that the accused falsified shipping documents which they deposited with Guaranty Trust Bank as collateral for N2.4 billion, a facility allegedly granted Innosson Nigeria Ltd.

    The shipping documents were also alleged to have been falsely presented as genuine and with intent to defraud in order to clear goods worth N2.4 billion.

    The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 1(2) (c), and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.

    NAN

  • Fraud: Innoson Motors MD asks judge to withdraw from trial

    The fraud trial of Chairman of Innoson Motors Limited, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, was stalled at the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday.

    Chukwuma failed to appear in court for his arraignment for alleged fraud.

    That was the third time the Innoson Motor chief had failed to appear in court despite a subsisting bench warrant for his arrest.

    Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, had on February 9 ordered Chukwuma to enter his defence for fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    During Wednesday’s proceedings, it was revealed that Innoson Motors chief had filed a petition at the National Judicial Commission (NJC) against the judge.

    Our correspondent gathered that the petitioner asked the Justice Dada to withdraw from the case.

     

  • Lawyer’s absence stalls Innoson’s fraud trial

    Hearing of pending applications in the fraud case involving Innoson Nigeria Limited, its chairman Innocent Chukwuma and four others, was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Macharty Mbadugha, who was absent, wrote the court to say that he was at the Court of Appeal for another matter.

    He sought for adjournment of the case.

    The development stalled hearing of pending applications in the suit, including one in which the prosecution is praying the court to order the defendants’ arrest.

    Justice Ayokunle Faji had on January 11 stayed proceedings the case because there was a pending application that was yet to be determined at the Supreme Court.

    The police had charged the defendants with an alleged N2.4billion shipping fraud.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation took over the case on March 18, 2016.

    Innoson Motors, Chukwuma, Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny are the defendants.

    Trial is yet to begin in the case since it was filed due to various applications by the defendants.

    Mr. Chukwuma has also never appeared in the case.

    On why he was staying proceedings, Justice Faji said: “In view of the pending motion for stay of proceedings at the Supreme Court, this court will wait until it is determined.”

    According to him, lower courts must wait on the Supreme Court where a decision on appeal would have a direct impact on proceedings.

    “To do otherwise will amount to invitation to judicial anarchy,” Justice Faji added.

  • Innoson Motors boss absence in court stalls fraud trial

    Innoson Motors boss absence in court stalls fraud trial

    The arraignment of the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was stalled on Wednesday due to the defendant’s absence in court.

    Chukwuma was to be arraigned alongside his company Innoson Motors Limited and Charles Chukwuma on charges bothering on fraud and stealing before Justice Mojisola Dada.

    Counsel to the defendants, Mr. U. Onwukwe, told court that he had filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

    “We have an application objecting to the jurisdiction of this court. The application was filed on January 15,” he told the court.

    Onwuke complained to the court that the EFCC has not served his client but that they got the information on social media.

    “My client has not been served, when this matter was filed.  But the EFCC went to social media and it was through social media that we became aware the matter was coming up. We have not been served at all.

    “The EFCC arrested them and they know where they reside. They granted the second defendant (Innocent Chukwuma) bail on self recognisance and told him to come to EFCC office on February 20. But rather than wait till February, they went ahead to file these charges in December.

    “Charles Chukwuma, who is the third defendant in the charge, was not even arrested by the EFCC,” Onwukwe added.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Miss Zainab Ettu, in her response, claimed that the businessman and his co-defendants have been evading service.

    “The most important thing is for us to proceed to trial. The defendants are on administrative bail and as diligent citizens of the country, when they were aware of the charges, we expect them to come to the EFCC office with their counsel and receive a copy of the charge,” she said.

    Ettu asked the court for a short adjournment to enable trial to commence on the matter.

  • Court stays proceedings in fraud case against Innoson, others

    Court stays proceedings in fraud case against Innoson, others

    Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday stayed proceedings in a fraud case against Innoson Nigeria Limited and five others.

    The police charged them with an alleged N2.4billion shipping fraud.

    The case is numbered FHC/L/565c/16.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation took over the case on March 18, 2016.

    Others named in the charge are – chairman of Innoson Motors, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.

    Trial is yet to begin in the case since it was filed due to various applications by the defendants.

    Chukwuma has also never appeared in the case and was not in court on Thursday.

    Justice Faji said he was staying proceedings because there was a pending application that was yet to be determined at the Supreme Court.

    “In view of the pending motion for stay of proceedings at the Supreme Court, this court will wait until it is determined,” he ruled.

    According to him, lower courts must wait on the Supreme Court where a decision on appeal would have a direct impact on proceedings.

    “To do otherwise will amount to an invitation to judicial anarchy,” Justice Faji added.

    When the defence counsel told him about other pending applications, he said: “I cannot do anything. I cannot even cough.”

    He adjourned the case till March 12 for report of developments at the Supreme Court.

    The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to unlawfully falsify shipping clearance documents.

    They were accused of “uttering” (presenting) the allegedly falsified shipping documents as collateral to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to allegedly obtain a loan of N2.4billion.

    The Federal Government claimed that the defendants committed the offence at Apapa wharf, Lagos, on October 10, 2013.

    The police prosecutor, who signed the charge sheet, U.S. Nwodo, said the offence was contrary to sections 1(2) (c) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr. J.I. Ajakaiye, was in court on Thursday.  He confirmed that there was a pending appeal at the Supreme Court.