Jubilant crowd Thursday stormed the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu to receive the Chairman of INNOSON Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, who was arrested Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of jumping bail.
He was later released by the same commission after being flown to Lagos.
As early as 10am, traditional dances as well as masquerades gathered at the airport waiting the arrival of the industrialist said to be the biggest employer of labour East of the Niger.
His aircraft touched ground at about 2.05 pm. As soon as the crowd sighted him, they went into wild jubilation.
A long convoy of cars joined in escorting Chukwuma to his Enugu residence, with chants of solidarity songs.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the EFCC to newsmen on his arrival at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Chukwuma said EFCC operatives jumped into his house and took him away to Lagos in short-knicker and singlet.
He, expressed surprise that the EFCC, which arrested him, could not tell him the offence he committed, disclosing that he refused to go after he was released until the commission tells him the offence he committed.
Chukwuma told newsmen that after the GTB wrote a false petition against him, the EFCC jumped into his house and whisked him away, regretting that up till now the EFCC refused to tell him the offence he committed.
His word:
“I thank everybody who fought for this matter because I was surprised that in the early morning they jumped into my house, I thought it was kidnappers or armed robbers but finally I noticed it was EFCC. Around 7:30 in the morning they said they want to arrest me and I joined them to their office and up till now they have not told me my offence.
“When I got there, they said I should go but they didn’t tell me what I did. They arrested me like a criminal took me to their office and after to the airport on shorts and singlet to Lagos.
“EFCC under Ibrahim Magu has never invited me, nobody invited me, they just jumped into my house. If they invited me I would have gone to answer them because I am a genuine businessman, I am an industrialist I don’t have anything in my cupboard.
“That’s why I asked them to tell me what I did but up till now they have not told me what I did. I said I will stay with them until they tell me what I did.
“I don’t know for now if I will go to court against this unlawful arrest but what I know is that they have not told me up till now what I did.
“I have never forged tax waiver document in my life, never in my life! I pay all my tax, I pay my duties, I am a genuine businessman, I am an industrialist.”
He further volunteered in a statement he personally signed that he intends to work faithfully with the EFCC on the alleged investigation so as to clear his name, which he said has been badly damaged, adding that he will follow up the so called investigation to its logical conclusion.
He expressed his gratitude to fellow countrymen who stood by him in this period of “my illegal arrest by the EFCC”.
“May I use this opportunity to express my gratitude to fellow countrymen who stood by me in this period of my illegal arrest by the EFCC. Firstly, I want to thank Mr. President, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his believe in the rule of law.
“I thank the various State Governors who condemned my illegal arrest and fought to see my release. To all the media organizations, various human rights groups, the youths, the Free Innoson Media crusaders and everybody who gave a voice to condemn my illegal arrests, I thank you,” he stated
The Nation
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
