Innoson takes EFCC to court over detention, seeks N200bn compensation

By Etse Kassim, Abuja

Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman and Chief Executive of Innosons Motors, has sued the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) before an Enugu State High Court over his recent ‘unlawful’ detention by the anti-graft body.

The business mogul is praying the court to grant him N200 billion from the coffers of EFCC for alleged malicious falsehood, defamation and unlawful imprisonment.

The lawsuit which was filed on behalf of Innoson by Joseph N of McCarthy Mbadugha & Co, stated that the invasion of the businessman house and the subsequent detention last month violated his rights as well as a major dent on his image.

A statement made available by Cornel Osigwe, Spokesman of Innoson Group, gives the breakdown of the financial compensation being demanded by the Anambra-born businessman and Innoson Nigeria Ltd to include N30 billion exemplary damages; N30 billion for assault and battery and 30 billion for false imprisonment.

Others are N40 billion for injury to feelings- mental pains and anxiety arising from malicious falsehood and or defamatory publications of the defendants against the plaintiffs; N50 billion for injury to plaintiff’s reputation arising from the said publications; N20 Billion for general damages.

Innoson is also seeking an order of the Court that the published words complained of; be retracted by the defendants and such retraction be published in two national newspapers including the Punch Newspapers.

The owner of the vehicle manufacturing plant in Nnewi, also wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant either by itself, agents, privies, and/or assigns from further maligning or otherwise defaming the Plaintiffs in the words complained of or similar words and/or in other manner howsoever.

It would be recalled that EFCC had claimed in statement on its official website that the arrest of Innoson followed a due process.

“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,” the Commission had said.