EFCC Releases Innoson CEO, Innocent Chukwuma

-Innocent Chukwuma has been released from EFCC custody.

-Innoson Company refutes all allegations levelled against its boss by the EFCC.

Dr. Innocent Chukwuma

EFCC sets free Innocent Chukwuma.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the founder and chairman of Innoson Automobile Group, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma.

Naija News reports that Chukwuma was arrested by the anti graft agency on Tuesday morning at his residence in Enugu.

The EFCC spokeman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed in a statement that the Innoson boss was released on Wednesday, saying his arrest was sequel to his refusal to respond to invitations by the Commission.

Uwujaren said the Innoson boss is being investigated alongside his brother, Charles Chukwuma, reportedly at large by the EFCC over matters bordering on ₦1,478,366,859.66 alleged fraud and forgery, adding that the industrialist allegedly used forged documents to secure tax waivers among other infractions.

He added that the commission initially granted Chukwuma administrative bail while his surety could also not be found.

The EFCC said: “Unfortunately the industrialist resisted arrest and stirred controversy by bringing six truck-loads of thugs to block the entrance to his Plot W1, Industrial Layout, Abakaliki Road, Emeni, Enugu, home.

“This was after he initially misled the Police Command by informing them that his home had been invaded by armed robbers and kidnappers despite the fact that operatives of the Commission duly identified themselves to policemen guarding his home.

“His unruly thugs encircled and manhandled operatives of the Commission who had gone to effect the arrest. Consequently, a distress call was sent to the Commission’s Enugu Office for reinforcement. In all of this, the Commission’s operatives acted with decorum and civility. No one was manhandled or assaulted by the EFCC team, and not a single shot was fired, despite the provocation.”

After Chukuma’s release, his company tweeted on their Twitter handle that he has refused the bail granted him by the Commission and was demanding to why he was arrested.

The EFCC spokesman, however, confirmed to Channels Tv that the industrialist had left their custody, saying his release came after he disagreed with the anti-graft agency and faulted the allegations levelled against him.

In a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Cornel Osigwe, the company said Chukwuma did not rebuff the EFCC invitation, neither did he mobilise thugs to attack any official of the commission.

“Chukwuma is a law-abiding citizen; there is no how he would be invited by the EFCC and he would ignore or refuse to honour the invitation. Dr Chukwuma has never had any issues or query from the EFCC recently.

“The last issue he had with EFCC was an invitation extended to him in 2012 based on a complaint against him by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), which he duly honoured.

“We challenge EFCC to show proof and evidence of EFCC invitation extended to Dr Chukwuma; the various dates of the invitation and the letter of the invitation extended to him,” the company said.