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Court Orders Arrest Of Innosson CEO, Innocent Chukwuma

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A bench warrant has been issued by a Federal High Court in Lagos, for the arrest of Innosson Nigeria Ltd CEO, Innocent Chukwuma, before the court.

The warrant was issued by Justice Ayokunle Faji on Monday for the arrest of Chukwuma and two others.

Recall that the Federal Government fews back had called on the court to issue a bench warrant for Chukwuma and some of his employees.

The police had charged them with an alleged #2.4 billion shipping fraud, but the case was taken over by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Other people charged in the case include Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.

The prosecution prayed 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.

The Innoson boss and his staff were absent from the court last week.

Prosecuting counsel, Julius Ajakaiye moved an application, urging the court to order the absent defendants’ arrested.

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.

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.

The defence counsel, Chief George Uwechue (SAN) and Prof. C. Mbadugha call on the court to dismiss the application.

They stated that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue a bench warrant against the Innoson CEO and his staff “because they were not properly summoned 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.