Koreans, Others Arraigned for Allegedly Detaining FIRS Officials

The Federal Inland Revenue Service has arraigned two South Koreans, Son Chun Gili and Jung Wookshin, alongside two Nigerians and their company, before a  Federal High Court, in Lagos, over the alleged attack, assault and detention of its officials.

The Nigerians and the company charged alongside the two South Koreans are; Akeem Idowu, Chikwendu Emeka and Solpia Nigeria Limited.

The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, are facing three charges bordering on obstruction, assault and detention preferred against them by FIRS.

FIRS Prosecuting Counsel, Moses Ideho, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on August 29, 2022, at 46, Iju road, in Lagos.

Ideho said that the defendants allegedly  assaulted and detained Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, who visited their office to inspect the company’s books and documents for the purpose of a tax investigation.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 41(a) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and were punishable under Section 41(d) of the Federal inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Given the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand them in prison custody pending the determination of the charge and also asked for a trial date.

But the defendants’ legal team, asked the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms, saying that the bail applications have been filed and the same has been served on the prosecution.

Ruling on the bail application, Justice Oweibo, admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N1m with one surety each in like sum.

Justice Oweibo also ordered that the surety must be a landed property owner within the Court’s jurisdiction.

The judge while adjourning the matter till November 16, for trial, released the defendants to their lawyers for two weeks to enable them to perfect their bail conditions, adding that if they are unable to perfect the bail condition they will be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Services custody.

Charges against the defendants in a charge marked FHC/L/467c/2022 read: “That you Akeem Idowu (M), Chikwendu Emeka (M); Son Chun Gill (M), Solpia Nigeria Limited and Jung Wookshin (M) on or about the 29th of August 2022, at No 46, Iju Road, in Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did obstruct Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, authorized officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service in the performance of their official duties; by barricading and detaining them in your premises and hindered the said officers from carrying out their lawful functions and by thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 41(a) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and punishable under Section 41(d) of the Federal inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007.

“That you, Akeem Idowu (M), Chikwendu Emeka (M); Son Chun Gill (M), Solpia Nigeria Limited and Jung Wookshin (M) on or about August 29, 2022, at 46, Iju road, in Lagos, Lagos State and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did impede access to the books and documents for the purpose of a tax investigation by the Federal Inland Revenue Service by denying Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, all authorized officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service from carrying out a search of the premises and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 41 (b) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and punishable under Section 41 (d) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007.

“That you, Akeem Idowu (M), Chikwendu Emeka (M); Son Chun Gill (M), Solpia Nigeria Limited and Jung Wookshin (M) on or about August 23, 2022, at 46, Iju road, Lagos, Lagos State of Nigeria and within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did assault Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, authorized officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, whilst lawfully performing their functions and Exercise their powers under the Federal inland Revenue Service (Establishment Act 2007) and committed an offence contrary to Section 41(a) of the Federal Inland Service (Establishment) Act and punishable under Section 41 (d) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007.”