EFCC files fraud charges against Chukwuma

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a four-count charge of fraud against Innocent Chukwuma, chairman of Innoson Motors, and Charles, his younger brother.

This comes days after the anti-graft agency released him on bail after picking him in Enugu.

The anti-graft agency accused him of obtaining containers of motorcycles spare parts by false pretence between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

The goods, said to be property of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, were allegedly obtained from Mitsui O.S.K Lines Limited in Apapa.

The anti-graft agency said the duo “with intent to defraud induced the staff of Mitsui O.S.K and Maersk Line Limited to deliver”, to them through their clearing agents, the motorcycle spare parts, moulds of spare parts and steel structures and raw materials called polyvinlchlorid, imported from China.

The accused were said to have falsely pretended that they were authorised by GTB to clear the goods and take delivery of them.

Shortly after the EFCC granted him bail, it issued a statement saying that he was being investigated for fraud.

“Chief Chukwuma and his brother, Charles Chukwuma (who is still at large), are being investigated by the Insurance and Capital Market Fraud Section of the Commission’s office in Lagos over matters bordering on N1, 478, 366, 859.66 fraud and forgery.” read the statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the agency.

“The industrialist, among other infractions, allegedly used forged documents to secure tax waivers.”

Chukwuma has continued to maintain being innocent.