Innoson’s boss, accused of forging N1.47bn tax waiver documents, gets bail

Innocent Chukwuma, chairman of Innoson Motors, has been released on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was released on Wednesday evening, according to a statement by the EFCC.

Chukwuma was arrested on Tuesday in Enugu but the EFCC was silent on the details, leading to speculations that it had to do with a dispute with GTBank.

But in a statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, the commission alleged that Chukwuma and his brother committed fraud and forgery amounting to N1,478, 366, 859.66.

EFCC said he used forged documents to secure tax waivers.

THE FULL STATEMENT

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released Nnewi, Anambra-State born Industrialist, Chief Innocent Chukwuma on bail.

The business man who runs a local auto assembly plant was arrested on Tuesday December 19, 2017 at his Enugu residence, following his refusal to respond to invitations by the Commission, after initially being granted administrative bail by the Commission, while his surety could also not be found.

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.

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.

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