Innoson Group, the Head of Corporate Communications, Cornel Osigwe, says the four counts filed by the police against the company before the Federal High Court in Lagos are trumped-up charges.
Osigwe claimed in a statement on Wednesday that the Inspector-General of Police, who filed the charges on December 21, 2015, at the instance of Guaranty Trust Bank, had later filed a notice dated February 17, 2016 to withdraw same, to enable the police to conclude investigation of the case.
Osigwe also faulted media report that the police had filed before Justice Ayokunle Faji an application seeking a bench warrant against the Managing Director of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma.
According to him, an application for a bench warrant can only be requested when there is a pending charge but “as it is, there is no charge pending against Innoson Motors’ boss – Chief Innocent Chukwuma, his company, Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mistsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.”
He blamed GTB for the company’s ordeal, saying the criminal matter, which followed a petition by GTB, was part of the bank’s ploy to evade the payment of N8.5bn judgment debt to Innoson Group.
Osigwe said, “The genesis of the withdrawn trumped-up charge: At all material time, Innoson Nigeria Ltd. was a customer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
“Sometime in 2012, Innoson discovered that GTB imposed and debited its current account with over N700m excess and unlawful charges.
“GTB failed and refused to refund the N700m to Innoson.
“Consequently, Innoson commenced Suit No: FHC/AWK/CS/139/2012 against GTB and the court rendered judgment in the sum of N4.7bn with 22 per cent interest on the judgment debt until satisfaction of the judgment debt in favour of Innoson against GTB.
“GTB appealed to the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division against the judgment in Appeal No: CA/E/288/2013.
“However, on December 9, 2014, the Court of Appeal ordered GTB to pay the judgment debt, which then stood at over N6bn, into an interest-yielding account in the name of the court.
“Also, in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/603/2006, the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division ordered GTB, in a garnishee order absolute made on 29th day of July 2011, to pay N2.4bn to Innoson.
“Also, the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, in its judgment of February 6, 2014, in Appeal No: CA/I/258/2011, affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court and ordered GTB to pay N2.4bn to Innoson.
“As of 2013/2014, the outstanding indebtedness of GTB to Innoson by reason of the judgment debts was over N8.5bn.
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Osigwe claimed in a statement on Wednesday that the Inspector-General of Police, who filed the charges on December 21, 2015, at the instance of Guaranty Trust Bank, had later filed a notice dated February 17, 2016 to withdraw same, to enable the police to conclude investigation of the case.
Osigwe also faulted media report that the police had filed before Justice Ayokunle Faji an application seeking a bench warrant against the Managing Director of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma.
According to him, an application for a bench warrant can only be requested when there is a pending charge but “as it is, there is no charge pending against Innoson Motors’ boss – Chief Innocent Chukwuma, his company, Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mistsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.”
He blamed GTB for the company’s ordeal, saying the criminal matter, which followed a petition by GTB, was part of the bank’s ploy to evade the payment of N8.5bn judgment debt to Innoson Group.
Osigwe said, “The genesis of the withdrawn trumped-up charge: At all material time, Innoson Nigeria Ltd. was a customer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
“Sometime in 2012, Innoson discovered that GTB imposed and debited its current account with over N700m excess and unlawful charges.
“GTB failed and refused to refund the N700m to Innoson.
“Consequently, Innoson commenced Suit No: FHC/AWK/CS/139/2012 against GTB and the court rendered judgment in the sum of N4.7bn with 22 per cent interest on the judgment debt until satisfaction of the judgment debt in favour of Innoson against GTB.
“GTB appealed to the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division against the judgment in Appeal No: CA/E/288/2013.
“However, on December 9, 2014, the Court of Appeal ordered GTB to pay the judgment debt, which then stood at over N6bn, into an interest-yielding account in the name of the court.
“Also, in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/603/2006, the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division ordered GTB, in a garnishee order absolute made on 29th day of July 2011, to pay N2.4bn to Innoson.
“Also, the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, in its judgment of February 6, 2014, in Appeal No: CA/I/258/2011, affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court and ordered GTB to pay N2.4bn to Innoson.
“As of 2013/2014, the outstanding indebtedness of GTB to Innoson by reason of the judgment debts was over N8.5bn.
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