Justice Ayokunle Faji issued the warrant on Monday for the arrest of Chukwuma and two others. The Federal Government had a week ago urged the Court to issue a bench warrant for Chukwuma and some of his employees.
They were charged in a fraud case before Justice Faji. The Police had earlier charged them with an alleged N2.4billion shipping fraud, but the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), later took over the case.
Others named in the charge are: Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny. The prosecution prayed the court to order the arrest of Innoson Motors Chairman and his staff for failing to turn up to take their plea in the criminal charge.
Last week’s Monday, Chukwuma and his staff were absent in court. Prosecuting counsel, Julius Ajakaiye moved an application, urging the court to order the absent defendants’ arrested.
He said the charge was served on them through a court-ordered February 8, 2016 substituted service following the AGF’s take-over of the case. Consequently, he said the defendants were yet to take their plea and should therefore be compelled to appear.
He added that an April 12, 2016 amended charge could not be served on the absent defendants. Ajakaiye urged the court to grant his application by ordering their arrest.
But defence counsel, Chief George Uwechue (SAN) and Prof. C. Mbadugha prayed the court to dismiss the application. They argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the warrant against the defendants “because they were not properly summoned before the court”. They said the application offends Order 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, adding that there was no proper service on their clients.
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