Innocent Chukwuma speaks on arrest warrant, says judge erred

Innocent Chukwuma, chairman of Innoson Group, says Mojisola
Dada, the judge who issued his arrest warrant, erred in law.

On Friday, a high court in Lagos issued a warrant of arrest for
Chukwuma over his failure to appear before it and face trial.

In a statement, Cornel Osigwe, spokesman of Innoson Group,
quoted Chukwuma as saying the order Dada was done in bad faith
because fair hearing was not granted to Joseph Mbadugha, his
counsel.

He said due process ought to have been followed in his
arraignment.

Chukwuma explained that his counsel drew the attention of the
court to pending motions such as similar charge had been filed in
another court, a motion for stay of proceedings and that the court
should recuse itself.

He said instead of listening to his counsel, the judge granted
the prayer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).

“The issuance of bench warrant led to a wild jubilation by some
staff of GTB and their lawyers who were fully seated in the court,”
the statement by Osigwe read.

“It must be stated that based on the submission of Prof
Mbadugha, counsel to Innoson, the judge erred in law by making an
order to issue a bench warrant against Innoson.

“The court is bound by law to listen and decide the applications
submitted rather than making an order to arraign Innoson in a
charge that is an abuse of process.

“The EFCC charge which is being instigated by GTB is a gross
abuse of process. First, an earlier charge which GTB induced the
EFCC to file against Innoson was struck out.

“Innoson appealed against the order striking the charge out on
the ground that it ought to be a dismissal and not striking out.
The appeal, with Appeal No: CA/L/1328CM/2017 is, till date, still
pending when EFCC filed or re-filed, in December 2017, the same
charge that was struck out.

“Secondly, the charge is on the same subject matter and the same
party as Charge No: FHC/L/565C/2015 that is pending at the Court of
Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No: CA/E/249C/2016.

Both charges are smear campaign by GTB and EFCC to destroy
Innoson.”

Innocent Chukwuma, chairman of Innoson Group, says Mojisola
Dada, the judge who issued his arrest warrant, erred in
law.

On Friday, a high court in Lagos issued a warrant of arrest for
Chukwuma over his failure to appear before it and face trial.

In a statement, Cornel Osigwe, spokesman of Innoson Group,
quoted Chukwuma as saying the order Dada was done in bad faith
because fair hearing was not granted to Joseph Mbadugha, his
counsel.

He said due process ought to have been followed in his
arraignment.

Chukwuma explained that his counsel drew the attention of the
court to pending motions such as similar charge had been filed in
another court, a motion for stay of proceedings and that the court
should recuse itself.

He said instead of listening to his counsel, the judge granted
the prayer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).

“The issuance of bench warrant led to a wild jubilation by some
staff of GTB and their lawyers who were fully seated in the court,”
the statement by Osigwe read.

“It must be stated that based on the submission of Prof
Mbadugha, counsel to Innoson, the judge erred in law by making an
order to issue a bench warrant against Innoson.

“The court is bound by law to listen and decide the applications
submitted rather than making an order to arraign Innoson in a
charge that is an abuse of process.

“The EFCC charge which is being instigated by GTB is a gross
abuse of process. First, an earlier charge which GTB induced the
EFCC to file against Innoson was struck out.

“Innoson appealed against the order striking the charge out on
the ground that it ought to be a dismissal and not striking out.
The appeal, with Appeal No: CA/L/1328CM/2017 is, till date, still
pending when EFCC filed or re-filed, in December 2017, the same
charge that was struck out.

“Secondly, the charge is on the same subject matter and the same
party as Charge No: FHC/L/565C/2015 that is pending at the Court of
Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No: CA/E/249C/2016.

Both charges are smear campaign by GTB and EFCC to destroy
Innoson.”