The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged the
Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption to thoroughly investigate
circumstances surrounding the arrest and release of the Innoson Motors
boss, Dr Innocent Chukwuma by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to ensure that needed investors were not scared away by the activities
of the ant-graft agency, reports ITRealms.
Reacting to the controversial arrest, CNPP via a press statement
made available to ITRealms and signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy
Ezugwu, urged the Senate to ensure that the Acting EFCC chairman, was
appropriately sanctioned if it was found that the Commission colluded with
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) in the saga.
"If indeed the EFCC was being used by Guaranty Trust Bank
(GTB) to unduly intimidate and oppress a man that have single handedly created
over 50, 000 jobes at a time many citizens are jobless, the the commission
should be severely sanctioned to send a strong signal to the international that
Nigeria is not a lawless society.
"No where in the world do any anti-graft agency meddles
into a mere business transaction between two parties, especially when the
matter is in court. It will be unfortunate if the EFCC didn't take
cognisance of the fact that the GTB commercial dispute with the Innoson Group
is at the Supreme Court.
"We wonder the kind of image the anti-corruption agency is
trying to give the world about Nigeria; a land where might is right?
"For us at the CNPP a man like Dr Innocent Chukwuma should
be jealously protected by the Federal Government of Nigeria for pioneering
indigenous motor manufacturing company in the country.
"No country exposes its industrial leaders to ridicule, not
at a time the country is struggling to fully come out of recession.
"Another twist to the controversy is the claim by the EFCC
that Dr Chukwuma was involved in forgery of documents.
"For the EFCC to say that Innoson Group forged a waiver
document is most ridiculous. This is more so as the pioneer indigenous
vehicle assembly in the country deserves automatic waiver.
"If traders can get Federal Government waiver, should an
entrepreneur like Dr Innocent Chukwuma not be given a special waiver to
encourage him to manufacture vehicles for export to earn foreign exchange for
the country?
"We therefore charge the Senate to get to the root of the
matter and get the EFCC to disclose the documents that were forged and the
identify who petitioned the Commission on the matter.
"This is important to ensure that the EFCC does not begin
to cover up its excesses and disregard by use of trumped up allegations to
justify it tyranny against law abiding citizens.
"If the commission is not checked, it will be a judge in its
own case and the society will suffer for it", the group said.
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