Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, says Innocent Chukwuma, Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Motors, hired truckloads of thugs to attack operatives of the commission in his bid to escape arrest on Tuesday.

According to Uwajuren, Chukwuma was arrested at his residence in Enugu on Tuesday morning for refusing to honour a series of invitations extended to him in an ongoing investigation.

“A well-known industrialist, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, popularly known by his company’s name, INNOSON, has been arrested by the EFCC,” Uwajuren stated.

“He was picked up at about 11am at his Savage Crescent, GRA Enugu residence on Tuesday, December 19, 2017.

“His arrest followed his refusal to honour invitation by the commission, having earlier jumped an administrative bail granted him in a case being investigated by the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the commission’s Lagos office.

“Chukwuma, rather than honour the invitation by the EFCC, mobilised six truckloads of thugs pretending to be staff of his company to his residence, where they manhandled EFCC operatives.

“It took reinforcement from the Enugu office of the EFCC to arrest the industrialist, who is currently being grilled by a team of investigators.”

Chukwuma is currently facing criminal charges before the Federal High Court, Lagos, having been accused of forging shipping documents which he used to obtain loans amounting to N2.4 billion from Guaranty Trust Bank.

The suit was first filed by the office of the Inspector General of Police on December 21, 2015, but it was later taken over by the Attorney General of the Federation on February 18, 2016.

Earlier in November, FG filed an application urging Ayotunde Faji, the judge handling the case, to issue a warrant of arrest against Chukwuma for allegedly refusing to appear before the court and enter a plea in the charges against him.

But the case was adjourned to November 21 for ruling on the application. It’s not clear whether the judge granted the arrest warrant or not.