Justice Olusola Williams of an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos has struck out the criminal charges instituted against the Managing Director of Innoson Motors, Mr Innocent Chukwuma (aka Innoson).

Managing Director of Innoson Motors, Mr Innocent Chukwuma (aka Innoson).

Justice Williams struck out the suit following failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to produce Innoson for possible arraignment on seven consecutive occasions.

The EFCC had filed a charge against Innoson and his company on offences alleged to have been committed sometimes in 2009 and 2011 bothering on fraud; conspiracy to obtain by false pretence containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, property of GTB from Mitsui OSL Lines Ltd, Apapa, Lagos.

The judge, who is now presiding over the matter after the withdrawal of Justice Mojisola Dada of the same division, had on July 5, 2018 given the EFFC a 97-days ultimatum to produce Innoson for trial.

The court had also earlier blamed the EFCC for granting leave to Innoson, who was in its custody while the matter was pending in court.

However, in a short ruling, Justice Williams pointed out that the EFCC had the sole responsibility of producing Innoson to stand trial but has failed to executive such task.

“The prosecution is well aware that it is its duty to produce a defendant in court. This court is not inclined to continue to waste the tax of Lagos taxpayers. This court cannot continue to waste precious time calling a case that is going nowhere.

“It is a criminal matter that can be instituted anytime. I advise that the prosecution gets its acts together before coming to court. I am inclined to strike out this case and I so do”, the judge said.