Akin Kuponiyi

A Federal high court sitting in Lagos south west Nigeria has further adjourned till 24th of October, 2016 criminal charges of forgery filed against a Lagos businessman Innocent Chukwuma, his company, Innoson Nigeria Limited and four others

The adjournment was necessitated due to the absence of Director of Public prosecution (DPP) from the Attorney-General of Federation’s office (AGF),

Counsel from the DPP’s office Mrs Kehinde Bode Ayeni, while seeking adjournment told the court that the DPP who was unavoidably absent will like to come to court to personally handle the matter.

However, Barrister G.N.Uwueche SAN and Professor Macharty Mbadugha, leading six other lawyers told the court that there is appeal pending against the ruling of the court authorising the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute the accused persons, and some other applications pending before the court to be heard.

At the last adjourned day the court was urged to issue a bench warrant against the Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Nigeria Limited, Mr Innocent Chukwuma and his company Innoson Nigeria Limited for their persistence failure to appear in court to face trial in the alleged forgery charge filed against them.

In a four-count amended criminal charge number FHC/L/566C/2015 filed before the court, by Mohammed Saidu Diri from the office of the Director of Public prosecution Federal Ministry of Justice, it was alleged that Innoson Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma, Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui OSK Lines and Annajeku Sunny, within the period of January, 2010 and April, 2011, at Apapa Wharf criminally conspired amongst 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 polyvinylchloride (PVC ) for the production of roof ceiling and other imported items.

It was also alleged that all the accused persons same time and place without lawful authority and with intent to defraud, uttered the shipping documents to the shipping line Mitsui OSK lines in Lagos which was used as a collateral for the purpose of obtaining a loan of N2.4Billiion from a commercial bank in Lagos for the purpose of clearing raw materials Polyvinylchoride PVC for production of roof ceiling and other imported items.

The offences alleged to have been committed are contrary to and punishable under sections 3(6), and1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous offences Act CAP M17 Law of the Federation.

Others to be tried for the alleged offence alongside the Innoson boss and his company are: Charles Chukwu, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines, and Annajekwu Sunny