This is not the best of times for one of the siblings of the Imo State Governor, Mr Okechukwu Okorocha, who is enmeshed in controversy over a business transaction with a car dealer for supplies of four’weed drive and super Bike.
After a strong worded petition to the Inspector General of Police, an International businessman, Engineer Smart Chibuike Okeugiri has dragged the brother to governor Rochas Okorocha, Okey Okorocha to court, to claim the sum of N21m only, being the value of one unit of Toyota Hilux Dakar Double Cab Pickup Truck and Davison super Bike valued at N18m and N3m respectively.
In a petition dated 22 November, 2017 and addressed to the Inspector General of Police through the DIG, D Department, Force CID, Area 10, Abuja. For the attention of the Special Fraud Unit Commissioner in Lagos, titled “Petition of Obtaining A Unit of Toyota Hilux Darkar Double Cab pickup Truck with Chasis No AHTE 2399307038653 valued at N18million and Brand New 883 Model Harley Davison Super Bike Valued at N3 million/Threat to life by Mr Okechukwu Okorocha” the petitioner’s lawyers, Chuks Okeugiri noted that, in August 2017, his client imported a unit of Toyota Hilux Darkar Double Cab pickup Truck and Mr Okechukwu Okorocha allegedly represented to him of his desire to market vehicle and super Bike to the Government House, Owerri, Imo State.
According to the petitioner in the letter, he accused the suspect of taking delivery of the car based on that representation and allegedly vanished with it. The allegation has it that he has previously taken delivery of the brand new 883 model Harley Davison Super Bike valued at N3m in the same style.
Okeugiri added that based on the suspicion that the supplier has been duped, they have no option than to seek redress in police office.
The petitioner went further to accuse the suspect of alleged threats to his life and suspected plots to make his life miserable if further contacts were made to him on the issue.
Police in response to the petition reportedly invited Okey Okorocha through a notice of the police special fraud unit of 19th December 2017 for an investigation with the Head of the Intellectual Property/Copyright Fraud Unit Section on Thursday 4th January 2018, according to one DCP D.N Okoro, for the police commissioner.
Trumpeta was informed that police authorities came to effect the arrest of the younger brother resulting to the petitioner going to court for further redress.
In the High Court of Imo State, Owerri Judicial Division, in suit HOW/70/2018 between Engineer Smart Chibuike Okeugiri as claimant and Okechukwu Okorocha as Defendant, noted that having made attempts to settle out of court with the defendants and attempts unsuccessful and after initiated discussion with the Defendant failed, he has no option than to go to court and demand for his money.
According to Engr Okeugiri, the claimant, in the Witness statement of Oath deposed in court.
“At the time or period of concluding the transaction on the 4matic the Defendant caused me to- deliver to him on or about 18th day of September, 2017 one unit Toyota Hillux Dakar Double Cab Pickup Truck with Chassis number AHTE 239907038653 to add to a brand new Harley Dakar Super Bike which he had also taken in on 12th day of April, 2016 upon the representation made at different times to me and accepted and believed by me that he would get an undisclosed person in Government House to pay for them at the prices of N18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million) only and N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only respectively.
“The Defendant at the times of the representation to me knew that the vehicle and bike were ready markets for hire by important dignitaries for diverse functions and that they pay handsomely at the rate of N20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) only daily for the bike and N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only daily for the truck.
“Accordingly, I relying upon the representations then made allowed the Defendant to take possession of the said items on the different dates aforestated.
“The Defendant continued from the said dates to wrongfully detain the said items, uses them on regular basis to attend events, ceremonies and functions (political and social) until the intervention of the Police as captured hereunder.
“I also observed that the Defendant was using the truck and bike to cruise around town and had no intention of paying for them for which I made a demand for the return of them.
“The Defendant rather than pay the hire sums or return or pay for the items started deploying and is still deploying the paraphernalia of officialdom in Government House of Imo State and around his brother to ward off all demands and contact with me. In the course of inquiries I found out that the pretence made to me by the “Defendant for which I released the truck and bike were false at the time they were made and the Defendant only sought to and did succeed in taking over the motor bike and truck for purpose of using them for himself.
“I petitioned the Inspector General of Police and after preliminary investigation, the Police Special Fraud Unit issued and served an invitation to the Defendant but the Defendant continued to cruise around with the items under the protection and wings of officialdom, Government House Imo State and the Governor. I can identify the petition, the Police Invitation and attached letter. I kept a copy of the petition after submitting and the Police gave me the photocopy of the invitation and the attached letter.
“As the Defendant was served with the Police Invitation he went into hiding and was no longer seen in functions etc with the motor bike and truck. In addition he neither reported to the Police on the day stated or any other date.
“In order to continue the investigation the Police came into Owerri and for many days laid siege for the Defendant until 31st day of January, 2018 when he was arrested at a hideout in Owerri, Imo State.
“The Police thereat recovered the truck which the Defendant had also prepared for purposes of attending one of several functions of the day and the same is now parked at Police Headquarters, Owerri, Imo State.
“The Defendant somehow managed to lure the Police to Government House, Owerri where the chief of Staff to the brother of the Defendant, the Governor, confirmed the said pretence as false and berated the Defendant for being fraudulent before the Police then took him away.
“However, the Police could not recover the bike because of what is turning out to be the pretended undertaking of the Chief of Staff and Governor as the duo informed the Police of their desire for a resolution of the matter out of Court.
“ My business of hire of vehicle and bike is completely grounded in respect of the two items as I am losing income at the rate of N20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) only daily for the bike and N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only daily for the truck.
“I still have all the original papers of the said items as it was agreed that they would only be surrendered to the Defendant upon the receipt of the consideration in line with the pretences made.
“1 demanded that the Defendant return the items to me but he still refused and I continue to suffer loss.
“Therefore, he now asks the court to Pay to me the sum of N 21,000,000.00 (Twenty One Million Naira) only being the value of one unit of Toyota Hillux Darker Double Cab Pickup Truck with Chassis number AHTE 239907038653 and a branch new Harley Davison Super Bike Valued at N18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million Naira) only and N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only respectively which the Defendant has wrongly detained and still detains from me by reason whereof the I has suffered damages.
“And also the sum of N20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) only daily for the motor bike from I21h day of April, 2016 and N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only daily from 18th day of September, 2017 until they are returned to me being damages arising as sums lost for hire of the bike and truck.
