Innoson CEO files N200bn suit against EFCC for ‘defamation, falsehood’

Innocent Chukwuma, CEO of Innoson Nigeria Limited, has
filed a N200 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a statement shared with Our reporter, the lawsuit
has been filed at the Enugu high court by Joseph N. Mbadugha
of McCarthy Mbadugha & Co, the counsel to Innocent
Chukwuma.

Chukwuma is suing the EFCC for defamation, malicious
falsehood and unlawful imprisonment.

The Innoson boss had been arrested by the capital
market and insurance fraud unit  of the
EFCC on December 19, claiming that he resisted arrest and used
forged documents to get tax waivers.

Chukwuma maintained that at no time did Innocent Chukwuma
receive an invitation or was invited by the EFCC or was there any
time he jumped an administrative bail granted by the EFCC, his
spokesperson, Cornel Osigwe, said.

“Innoson is a public figure and a well-known industrialist of
international repute. There is no how he would be invited by the
EFCC and he would ignore or refuse to honour it,” Osigwe said in
the statement.

He also said he did not have any recent issue with the EFCC.

“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,” he said.

“However, Innocent Chukwuma and Innoson Nigeria Ltd appealed
against the order striking out on the basis that it ought to be
dismissal and not striking out. The appeal- appeal no:
CA/I/1330Cm/2017 is till date still pending at the court of Appeal
Lagos State. Since then EFCC has never invited him.

“On this premise, Chief Innocent Chukwuma (OFR) and Innoson
Nigeria Ltd are claiming against EFCC; N30 billion exemplary
damages; N30 billion for assault and battery; N30 billion for false
imprisonment; N40 billion for injury to feelings- mental pains and
anxiety arising from malicious falsehood and or 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.

“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.”

Innocent Chukwuma, CEO of Innoson Nigeria Limited, has
filed a N200 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a statement shared with Our reporter, the lawsuit
has been filed at the Enugu high court by Joseph N. Mbadugha
of McCarthy Mbadugha & Co, the counsel to Innocent
Chukwuma.

Chukwuma is suing the EFCC for defamation, malicious
falsehood and unlawful imprisonment.

The Innoson boss had been arrested by the capital
market and insurance fraud unit  of the
EFCC on December 19, claiming that he resisted arrest and used
forged documents to get tax waivers.

Chukwuma maintained that at no time did Innocent Chukwuma
receive an invitation or was invited by the EFCC or was there any
time he jumped an administrative bail granted by the EFCC, his
spokesperson, Cornel Osigwe, said.

“Innoson is a public figure and a well-known industrialist of
international repute. There is no how he would be invited by the
EFCC and he would ignore or refuse to honour it,” Osigwe said in
the statement.

He also said he did not have any recent issue with the EFCC.

“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,” he said.

“However, Innocent Chukwuma and Innoson Nigeria Ltd appealed
against the order striking out on the basis that it ought to be
dismissal and not striking out. The appeal- appeal no:
CA/I/1330Cm/2017 is till date still pending at the court of Appeal
Lagos State. Since then EFCC has never invited him.

“On this premise, Chief Innocent Chukwuma (OFR) and Innoson
Nigeria Ltd are claiming against EFCC; N30 billion exemplary
damages; N30 billion for assault and battery; N30 billion for false
imprisonment; N40 billion for injury to feelings- mental pains and
anxiety arising from malicious falsehood and or 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.

“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.”