The Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Chukwuma has debunked allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that he forged tax waiver documents. Innoson who also denied reports that he refused to honour invitation extended to him by the EFCC said he was arrested like a common criminal and was taken to Lagos from Enugu in shorts and singlet.
The business mogul disclosed this on Thursday at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport on arrival from Lagos after he was released by the EFCC.
“I thank everybody, who fought on this matter. I was surprised that in the early morning, they (EFCC operatives)jumped into my house. I thought they were kidnappers or armed robbers but finally, I noticed it was EFCC. Around 7:30 am, they said they wanted to arrest me and I followed them to their office and up till now, they have not told me what offence I committed.
“When I got there, they said I should go, but they didn’t tell me what I did. “EFCC under Ibrahim Magu has never invited me, nobody invited me, they just jumped into my house. If they invited me, I would have answered them because I am a genuine businessman. I am an industrialist, I don’t have any skeleton 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.”
On whether he would take legal action against the commission, he said
“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 what I did. I have never forged tax waiver documents in my life. I pay all my taxes, I pay my duties; I am a genuine businessman; I’m an industrialist.
“In due time, I will tell Nigerians the whole truth about this matter. I intend to work with EFCC on this alleged investigation, so as to clear my name, which has been badly damaged, and I will follow up this so-called investigation to its logical conclusion.”
