TRADITIONAL RULERS CALLED BUHARI TO WADE INTO INNOSON, GTB RIFT
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By John Ndu

Traditional Rulers under the aegis of Anambra South Senatorial Traditional Rulers Forum, have called on President Muhammad Buhari to intervene in the present rift between the Guarantee Trust Bank Plc and the Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma; which they said, has lingered through the courts over the period.

In an address presented by the traditional rulers and signed by the Grand Patron of the forum, Igwe (Dr.) Kenneth Orizu III of Nnewi with thirty other traditional rulers, the monarchs reasoned that
the intervention of Mr. President becomes very expedient so as not to allow "the little crisis degenerate into a bigger crisis that will be difficult and costly to resolve."

The forum specifically condemned the involvement and roles of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the persecution of the renowned industrialist.

"The Royal fathers of Anambra South Traditional Rulers Forum is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to look critically into the roles and activities of the EFCC on the ongoing business dispute between the Guarantee Trust Bank PLC and Innoson Nigeria Ltd."

It has become obvious that the EFCC is not following laid down procedures and judicial precedence in the prosecution of the alleged trumped up charge against our son, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Nigeria Ltd.

"As leaders and elders of the land, knowing fully well the consequences and crisis the roles and activities of the EFCC may cause, we have decided to use this, as not to allow this little crisis degenerate into a bigger crisis that will be difficult and costly to resolve."

While recalling several ordeals suffered by the Innoson boss in the hands of the anti graft agency; especially how he was bundled out of his house like a common criminal by EFCC that invaded his Enugu residence in the middle of the night of 19th December, 2017, the monarchs wandered why EFCC would persecute such a distinguished Nigerian, who did not only parade four national honours to his credit but also provides direct employment to over 7,000; and indirect jobs to about 15,000 Nigerians. "This, to us, is an insult," the forum posited.

While calling on Buhari to direct the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to call his officers to order; and to stop displaying elements of bias in the said dispute, the monarchs also called on the IGP and the Lagos State Police Commissioner, to "dutifully and responsibly"

investigate the recent attack on Prof. McCarthy Mbadugha, Innoson's lawyer, by assassins believed to have been sponsored by Innoson's opponents; with a view to arresting the perpetrators and unravelling the reason behind such attack.