The Federal Government, on Monday
urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to issue a bench warrant against Innoson
Nigeria Limited’s chairman Mr. Innocent Chukwuma and some of his employees.
They were charged in a fraud case
before Justice Ayokunle Faji.
The Police had earlier charged
them with an alleged N2.4billion shipping fraud, but the Attorney-General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), later took over
the case.
Others named in the charge are
Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.
The prosecution is praying the
court to order the arrest of Innoson Motors Chairman and his staff for failing
to turn up to take their plea in the criminal charge.
On Monday, Chukwuma and his staff
were absent in court.
Prosecuting Counsel Mr. Julius Ajakaiye
moved an application urging the court to order the absent defendants’ arrested.
He said the charge was served on
them through a court-ordered February 8, 2016 substituted service following the
AGF’s take-over of the case.
Consequently, he said the
defendants were yet to take their plea and should therefore be compelled to
appear.
He added that an April 12, 2016
amended charge could not be served on the absent defendants.
Ajakaiye urged the court to grant
his application by ordering their arrest.
But defence counsel Chief George
Uwechue (SAN) and Prof. C. Mbadugha prayed the court to dismiss the
application.
They argued that the court lacked
jurisdiction to issue the warrant against the defendants “because they were not
properly summoned before the court”.
They said the application offends
Order 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, adding that there was
no proper service on their clients.
Justice Faji adjourned until July
3 for ruling.
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