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Operatives of the EFCC allegedly stormed the residence of the CEO of Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma in Enugu, arrested and transferred him to Lagos without any prior notice.
Reports said the operatives accompanied by policemen, stormed the residence in a commando style and fired tear gas at protesting workers.
Workers at the Innoson factory Emene Enugu have staged a protest over what they described as the illegal arrest of their boss.
The company accused Guaranty Trust Bank of being behind the arrest.
A tweet by the company reads: “GTB vs Innoson “illegal Arrest” Hundreds of factory workers from Innoson factory Emene Enugu protests the illegal bundling of Innoson to Lagos by EFCC organised by GTB,” the company said.
“Like a commando style, GTB uses EFFC to storm Innoson Enugu Residential Home to bundle him to Lagos like a common criminal without any prior invitation.
“Armed policemen firing live bullets and gunshots inside Innoson residence. Tens of factory workers critically wounded.
“Hundreds of factory workers from Innoson factory Emene Enugu protests the illegal bundling of Innoson to Lagos by EFCC organised by GTB.”
The dispute between the company and GTB started in 2012.
According to Innoson, the company as a customer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, discovered that the bank imposed and debited its current account with over N700 million excess charges.
It said “GTB failed and refused to refund the N700 million to Innoson”
“Consequently, Innoson commenced suit no:FHC/AWK/CS/139/2012 against GTB and thereat the court rendered judgment in the sum of N4.7 billion with 22% interest on the judgment debt until satisfaction of the judgment debt in favour of Innoson against GTB.”
Innoson said the court of appeal of Ibadan division affirmed the decision of the federal high court and ordered GTB to pay N2.4 billion to Innoson.
Guaranty Trust Bank appealed the decision at the Supreme court but lost the case. Innoson then began a N400 million at the federal high court, Abuja.
A spokesperson for GTB has however denied the bank’s involvement in the arrest, saying that if the “EFCC arrested him they will be in a best position to comment on the reason for his arrest.”