Its no longer hidden that Justice Mojisola Dada of the special offences court sitting in Lagos, today declared the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma wanted over his failure to make an appearance in court for his arraignment for the fifth time.

The automobile company chairman is standing trial in a matter between his company and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 

Chukwuma had previously failed to make an appearance in court for his arraignment on Jan. 17, Feb. 9, March 14 and April 25.

His failure to appear before the court today for five consecutive times informed the issuance of the bench warrant for his arrest.

Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd., are to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property false pretences, obtaining property false pretence, stealing and forgery. EFCC alleged that the defendants with intent to defraud; conspired to obtain false pretences containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, a property of Guaranty Trust Bank (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 falsely pretending that they were authorised the bank to clear the goods. EFCC operatives claim 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 knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.