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Tag: Innoson Motors

  • Youths hail President for patronising Innoson Motors

    Youths hail President for patronising Innoson Motors

    Youth groups across the six geo-political zones of the country have praised President Bola Tinubu for patronising Innoson Motors in the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for public transportation to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.

    The groups, which expressed delight at President Tinubu’s patronage of the local vehicle manufacturer yesterday under the aegis of Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL), described him as a great leader.

    In a statement by their President General, Goodluck Ibem, the groups said: “This move is a confirmation that President Tinubu feels and listens to Nigerians and is ready to go all out to meet the demands and aspirations of the people.

    “President Tinubu has started implementing the demands of Nigerian workers and protesters via the purchase of the CNG vehicles to subsidise transport fares.

    Read Also: Nigeria youths to Tinubu: You’re indeed a great leader for patronising Innoson motors

    “The patronage will improve our economy and provide more resources for Innoson Motors to employ more youths and workers, which will reduce youth restiveness and improve the growth of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “The patronage will encourage more investors to invest into our economy and drastically reduce the demand for imported goods among Nigerians. The President has set a good example for Nigerians to follow.

    “Without any equivocation, the President has proven to be a bridge builder, a man of uncommon generosity and a legend of our time.

    “The President has restored the confidence of Nigerian youths to believe in their country and her abilities.

    “We commend the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Motors, who conceived and brought to fruition a vehicle plant in the country that can compete favourablly with any vehicle in the world.

    “His idea and vision has placed our nation on the world map as people of great talent and determination.

    “We call on all Nigerian youths to believe in President Tinubu, who is fully determined and prepared to take the nation to greater heights.

    “President Tinubu will soon take the country to her desired destination. We should be patient with him.”

  • No cause for alarm over issues with Innonson Motors, says GTB

     Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) says it is taking all necessary legal steps to ensure that no illegal or fraudulent execution is carried out over its court case with Innoson Motors.

    Innoson Nigeria Ltd. had announced that it obtained a writ of Fifa from the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, against GTB.

    According to the company, the writ is to effect the judgment given by the Federal High Court in Ibadan and upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    The Company Secretary of GTB, Mr Erhi Obebeduo, in a statement, however, assured the bank’s customers of the safety of their funds.

    In its clarification, GTB said the judgement was applicable to the account of the Nigerian Customs Service Board domiciled with the bank, rather than the bank as an entity.

    “The attention of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (“the Bank”) has been drawn to statements circulating in the news and social media in respect of a purported enforcement of a judgement of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, at one of its branches in Anambra State.

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

    “The bank, as a law-abiding corporate citizen, is taking all necessary legal steps to address this situation and ensure that no illegal or fraudulent execution is carried out.

    “It is important to state that the judgment allegedly in issue is in respect of a Garnishee Proceedings against the account of the Nigerian Customs Service Board domiciled with the bank and not against the bank as an entity.

    “The bank remains committed to providing best-in- class customer experience to all its valued customers,” it said. (NAN)

  • Police to partner Innoson Motors for APC production

    THE Nigeria Police Force has expressed readiness to partner with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited for the production of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to assist in crime fighting. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, expressed the readiness on Friday at the inauguration of IVM Granite Vehicle, 2019 edition manufactured by the indigenous company in Nnewi, Anambra. Idris commended Innoson for providing camouflaged vehicles for the Nigerian Army to tackle insecurity. Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector- General in charge of Logistics and Supply, Mr Agboola Oshodi- Glover, also called on other organisations to support the locally made vehicles. “Innoson is making history.

    This type is rare. I congratulate you and want to assure you that police will give you all the necessary support you need. “But you need to commence production of Armoured Personnel Carriers to enable the police tackle insurgents and other security challenges in the country,” he added. Also, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra praised the ingenuity of the company amidst the challenges in the industry. “I am happy this is happening in our state. It’s only here that we’re manufacturing vehicles. Others travel to other countries and gather parts to assemble in Nigeria,” he said. Obiano, however, expressed regret that the epileptic power supply in the state had hampered some production capacity of the company.

    The governor urged the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, to provide adequate power supply and enabling environment for maximum productivity. He also appealed to state and Federal Governments to commence placing orders on the vehicles produced by IVM. “With what Innoson is doing, he is contributing immensely to the nation’s GDP and should be encouraged to do more,” Obiano, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, added. Earlier, the Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, said the company’s major strength depended on its ability to produce according to clients’ specifications. “The fact that the Nigerian Police vehicle operate in diverse and dangerous terrains as a result of its functions, Innoson vehicles can produce specific operational vehicles that will meet the operational requirements of the Nigerian Police.

  • Why we attacked Lagos lawyer – Suspects

    Two suspects arrested for attempted murder on a Lagos based lawyer Prof. McCarthy Mbadugha have told the police that they attacked him for not paying their salaries when due.

    This was contained in a statement by police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) in reaction to reports on Mbadugha’s attack.
    According to Oti, the suspects identified as Kingsley Asuquo, 19, and Isaac Edet, 18, both guards attached to the lawyer from Strongcity Security Services Limited said they planned to kill him if it became necessary.

    It was gathered that the suspects were bitter that they were not being paid when due despite the money being made by the lawyer from his client including Innoson Motors.

    Denying that the victim was attacked by unknown assailants, Oti said both suspects were guards attached to him, adding that efforts were being made to apprehend their accomplices at large.

    He said: “The Lagos State Police Command is investigating two security guards, Kingsley Asuquo,19 and Isaac Edet, 18, assigned to guard a Lagos lawyer, Prof. McCarthy Mbadugha, from Strongcity Security Services but ended up attacking and robbing the same man that hired them for protective services.

    “On October 13, at about 5:30pm, the command received information from a credible source that armed bandits held one Barrister Joseph Mbadugha aka Prof McCarty Mbadugha, hostage in his office at JohnVic Igbanogo Street, Lekki Phase one. That the armed men were seen wearing Strongcity Security Services uniform.

    “Based on the information, operatives from Maroko Police Station and FSARS Ikeja, jointly mobilised to the scene. On sighting the operatives, the hoodlums ran in different directions to avoid being arrested but one of them, who gave his name as Isaac Edet, was nabbed at the scene.

    “During interrogation, he mentioned and led detectives to arrest his partner in crime, one Kingsley Asuquo. Interestingly, both suspects are staff of Strongcity Security Services attached to the victim.

    Read Also: Suspected assailants attack lawyer in office

    “They claimed the victim does not pay their salary as at when due, hence they planned with others at large to rob and kill him if necessary.

    “They succeeded in dispossessing the victim of a bag containing laptop, N40,000, three cheque booklets, an iPhone-6. All these items were recovered from the thieves in the course of investigation.

    “The Commissioner of Police has directed the head of the command’s Intelligence Unit to fish out the suspects at large for prosecution. The command hopes that this press release halts rumour making the rounds on social media that the lawyer was attacked by unknown assailants.”

  • Court adjourns for ruling in GTBank, Innoson appeal suit

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu Thursday adjourned sine die for ruling in an application brought before it by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) seeking to amend its motion of appeal against a judgement given by a Federal High Court, Awka against the bank.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter Thursday, counsel to GTBank, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) informed the court that the appellant (GTBank) had its notice of appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Awka.

    Opening his address, Olanipekun informed the court that he would like to withdraw the application dated June 22, 2016 and sought the court to grant him leave to do so. This application for withdrawal of the motion seeking an extension of time to respond to the counter affidavit filed by Innoson against the motion to amend the notice of appeal was opposed by counsel to Innoson Motors and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Prof. Joseph Mbadugha.

    Arguing that the court does not have the jurisdiction to grant hearing to the appellants, Mbadugha maintained that the court should hold the balance between the contending rights of all parties.

    Read Also:GTBank: Innoson admits misleading public on N14b court ruling

    In maintaining this balance he averred, the court should note that they (Innoson Motors) have a motion before the court challenging that the applicants cannot be allowed to move any applications before the court since they are yet to comply with a previous order of the court.

    He further argued that by order 80 of the Supreme Court Rules, since the appellants appeal has been entered at the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal lacks the right to adjudicate on it.

    Responding to Innoson’s argument, counsel to GTBank noted that Mbadugha’s positions were unconstitutional. He maintained that once an application for withdrawal has been made, the applicant can withdraw his application and such an application cannot be opposed.

    Maintaining that it is within the court’s jurisdiction to grant the leave being sought, Olanipekun argued that the right of appeal is a constitutional right that should not suffer any distraction or nuances of the respondent.

    Upholding Olanipekun’s argument, the court led by Justice Ogunwumiju ruled that by the provision of the 1999 constitution, an appellant has the right to withdraw its application. “The application hereby stands withdrawn and struckout”, she ruled.

    With the application withdrawn, Olanipekun moved a motion praying the court for leave to amend its notice of appeal dated January 28, 2015 challenging the order of the Federal High Court, Awka.

    This motion was again challenged by counsel to Innoson Motors who argued that where an appeal has been entered at the Supreme Court as in the case at hand, the lower court (Court of Appeal) loses the right to entertain the matter in any sort. The only jurisdiction the lower court has he argued, is to transmit all pending applications to the appellate court.

    Urging the court to disregard Innoson’s argument, GTBank’s counsel argued that what is before the Supreme Court is an appeal on an interlocutory application, which is totally different from the substantive suit being argued by the parties.

    “A respondent to an appeal does not have the locus standi to ask for a stay of proceedings. The only party that can ask for stay of execution is an appellant who has an appeal”, he argued.

    The matter was the adjourned for ruling on a date to be communicated to the parties in the suit.

  • 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 absent in court

    Innoson Motors boss absent in court

    Chairman, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma, yesterday failed to appear at an Ikeja High Court for his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He is to face fraud and stealing charges.

    The EFCC accuses the defendants of intent to defraud and conspired to obtain by false pretenses containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials property of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) from Mitsui OSK Lines Limited, Apapa, Lagos.

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

    The offences, according to the EFCC, are in contravention of 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 of Lagos State 2003.

    Chukwuma was to be arraigned alongside his company Innoson Motors Limited and Charles Chukwuma.

    Counsel to the defendants Mr U. Onwukwe told the 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 and it was filed on Jan. 15.

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

    “The EFCC arrested them and they know where they reside, they granted the second defendant (Innocent Chukwuma) bail on self recognition.

    He said he was told to come to EFCC office on Feb. 20, and in December, they went ahead to file these charges.

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

    Counsel to the EFCC Miss Zainab Ettu, claimed that the automobile businessman and his co-defendants were evading service.

    “The most important thing is for us to proceed to trial; the defendants are on administrative bail.”

  • 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.

  • Engine manufacture begins soon, says Innoson Motors

    Engine manufacture begins soon, says Innoson Motors

    The Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, Chief Innocent Chukwuma yesterday said the  company will, in the next five years, commence local manufacture of vehicle engine to acheive 100 per cent local content in the auto industry.

    Currently, the firm is doing 60 per cent local content with the assembling of vehicle parts and the purchase of vehicle engines from foreign markets.

    He reiterated the comapny’s determination  to make Nigeria one of the 20 top world‘s industrialised nations by 2020.

    Speaking while he led the management team of the company to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in Abuja, he said Innoson, being the first indigenous motor manufacturing company, was set to reduce drastically, the prices of vehicles and cut down the country‘s dependence on imported vehicles.

    Informing the minister that the beginning was tough and rough, the chairman urged the government to assist in the area of efficient power supply to power the over 100 industries that have made Nnewi, the Taiwan of Africa.

    “Our major request is to help us in accessing foreign exchange to enable us keep and maintain our over 7, 200 employees. We wish to also request for a government policy to ensure that home-made goods are protected and patronised by all levels of governments and agencies,” he pleaded.

    This, according to him, would ensure that the youths were employable or self-employed, pointing out that 200 youths were currently undergoing training from Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    Responding, Dr. Onu assured the team that the ministry would support, cooperate and collaborate with the company, pointing out that after the budget was out, the ministry, alongside all the agencies under the ministry would, henceforth, drive only made-in-Nigeria vehicles.

    He urged the management team to upgrade the company‘s facilities and work towards manufacturing the engines in Nigeria, as another way of creating employment opportunities to Nigerian populace.