The attorney general of Nigeria on Thursday, May 19, 2016 received an authorization from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, to prosecute the chief executive officer of Innoson Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma, his company and four others for alleged forgery offences.
This is following an application filed before the court by the Federal Ministry of Justice that the attorney general of the Federation has taken over the prosecution of the accused persons which the prosecutor from the office of the Inspector general of Police objected to.
The presiding judge, Saliu Saidu, listened to the counsel of both parties and consequently ruled that the attorney general of the federation should continue with the prosecution of the accused.
The attorney general filed a four-count amended criminal charge against the accused persons whose names were given as Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines, and Annajekwu Sunny.
In the four-count amended criminal charge number FHC /L/565/C/2015 filed before the court by the director of public prosecutions of the federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Saidu Diri, it was alleged that the accused persons between January, 2010 and April 2011 at Apapa Wharf criminally conspired among themselves to wit, falsification of shipping documents which they deposited with Mitsui Osk Lines Lagos which was used as collateral for the purpose of clearance of raw materials polyinlchloride (PVC) for the production of roof ceiling and other imported items.
Diri further stated that the accused persons same time and place did without lawful authority and with intent to defraud, utter the shipping clearance documents to the shipping Line Mitsui Osk Lines which was used as collateral for the purpose of obtaining a loan of N2.4 billion from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc for the purpose of clearing raw materials Polyvinylchloride for the production of roof ceiling and other imported items
Furthermore, it was alleged that the accused presented the uttered shipping documents which were falsely and fraudulently represented as genuine to obtain a loan of N2.4 billion from Guaranty Trust bank Plc.
The alleged offences breach the dictates of sections 3(6),1(2)(C) of the miscellaneous offences Act Cap. M 17 Laws of the Federation, 2004 and are punishable under same.
Justice Saidu subsequently adjourned the case until Monday, May 31, 2016 for the arraignment of the accused persons.
