As a result of the Imo State Government's failure to pay or service the debt of N2,547,666,435.00 (Two Billion, Five Hundred and Forty-Seven Million, Six Hundred, Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty-Five Naira), which represents the purchase price of the various IVM Vehicles including their parts which IVM manufactures, Nigeria's indigenous vehicle manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) has filed a lawsuit against
The lawsuit, which was brought by Prof. Joseph N. Mbadugha, SAN, FCPA of McCarthy Mbadugha & Co, the legal representative for Innoson Vehicles, was brought against the Governor's repeated requests from Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma OFR, Chairman of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, for payment on the vehicles the company sold and delivered to the State Government.
For the avoidance of doubt, sometime in April 2021, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, invited Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Vehicles, to the Imo State Government House in Owerri. There, they spoke and decided that Innoson Vehicles would sell and supply the State Government with a variety of specifications of its brand of vehicles, including, among other things;
1. 70 units of Innoson 5 Seater double cabin pick-up (IVM Carrier) 4WD
2. 10 units of Innoson 5- Seater double cabin military pick up (IVM G12)
3. 10 units of Innoson 5 seater single cabin military pick-up (IVM G12)
4. 100 units of a complete siren with public addressing system, revolving light, and street police light;
5. 2 Units of IVM Ambulance Vehicles
6. 20 Units of IVM G12 MS11
7. 20 sets of B. Canopy
The above vehicles which were valued at over N2.5B ($6.3M) were supplied in good faith to the Imo State Government based on an understanding with the Governor which arose after a special request that Innoson Vehicles grant the State the favor of paying for the vehicles after deliveries to them and which request was granted and honored.
The special and privilege request granted to the Governor turned into a nightmare for Innoson Vehicles and Its Chairman after Chief Chukwuma had at various times through several visits, phone calls, messages, and submission of letters requesting payment appealed to the Governor and his conscience to make total payments or set up a payment plan that will offset the debt.
The inability of the State Government to pay the aforesaid purchase price of the vehicles supplied has resulted in Innoson Vehicles having difficulties in fulfilling its loan repayment obligations to Keystone Bank Limited and Bank of Industry. These Banks granted their credit facilities at the rate of 10% interest and other fees therein. More so, it has led to the loss of profit arising therefrom and the accruing interest.
It is also interesting to note that as of July 27th, 2022, the over N2.5B worth of vehicles supplied to Imo State Government in April 2021 under the leadership of Hope Uzodinma with a dollar value of $6.3M is now worth $3.8M. Even if the money is paid today, the value of the money has depreciated by over 40%.
It is therefore based on this premise that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd has begun the process of recovering its debts against the Imo State Government by slamming a lawsuit of over N2.5B with an interest rate of 10% on the entirety of the sum claimed at the High Court of Anambra State, Nnewi Division.
Cornel Osigwe
Head Corporate Communications and Affairs
IVM Innoson Group.
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