Justice Dada Withdraws From Innoson Motors Boss’ Trial
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday withdrew from the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma, who is facing allegations of fraud and forgery brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Opeyemi Oke following a directive to that effect from the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The NJC directive was as a result of a petition written by the automobile boss dated February 12, 2018.
In a letter signed by Ahmed Saleh, the Secretary to the NJC, the judicial body stated, “At the end of deliberation, Council did not find any act of misconduct on the part of the Hon. Judge.
“However, if the case is still pending before Hon. Justice M. A. Dada, same will be returned to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another Judge,” the letter reads.
The arraignment of Innoson boss by EFCC scheduled to hold yesterday was stalled as a result of the recommendation made by the NJC that the case file be transferred.
It would be recalled that Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd., were to be arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain property by false pretences, obtaining property by false pretences, stealing and forgery in a transaction with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
The EFCC alleged that the defendants committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.
According to the anti-graft commission, that the defendants with intent to defraud; conspired to obtain by false pretences containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, property of GTB from Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, Apapa, Lagos.
They are alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them via their clearing agents the goods which were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorised by the bank to clear the goods.
Also, EFCC alleged that the defendants in order to facilitate the fraud forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mutsui O.S.K Lines by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.
The alleged forgery was in order that the forged documents be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.
The offences contravened Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.
Following refusal of Chukwuma to take his plea in court for the fifth time on May 23, 2018 the judge had declared him wanted following the request by the EFCC.
The automobile boss petition NJC, titled, “Request To Investigate The Circumstances Leading To Hon. Justice Mojisola Dada of Lagos State High Court Issuing a Bench Warrant Against Chief Innocent Chukwuma and Ordering for His Arrest.”
