The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, on Friday, issued an arrest warrant for the Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company,Cletus Ibeto, who allegedly failed to appear in court for his N4.8 billion fraud trial.
According to The PUNCH, Justice Ismail Ijelu granted the bench warrant following a motion presented by the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN). Jacobs informed the court that despite repeated hearing notices being served on the defendant, he had consistently refused to appear in court.
The EFCC had brought charges against Cletus Ibeto, as well as his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd, regarding an alleged N4.8 billion fraud. The charges encompassed allegations of conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent use of documents.
The defendant’s arraignment had been postponed on two occasions, specifically on September 28 and October 5, 2023, due to his non-attendance in court, despite representation by his legal team. On both occasions, his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), had cited his client’s illness as the reason for his absence, with a promise to produce him on Friday. However, when the matter was called on Friday, a different counsel, Daniel Awosika (SAN), informed the court that the defendant was still unwell and unable to attend court.
In light of these developments, Jacobs requested the court to issue a bench warrant for the businessman’s arrest, contending that the defendant was in Lagos and could have been apprehended by the commission, but they lacked the court’s authorization to do so.
He said, “Senior lawyers can not come to court and waste the court’s time. We urge the court to grant us a warrant of arrest to force the defendant to court”.
In his verdict, Justice Ijelu emphasized that the defense counsel had not presented any substantial grounds to support their request for an adjournment.
Furthermore, the judge reiterated that the court’s purpose was not for trivial matters but solely for the administration of justice.
“The defence counsel decided to waste the court’s time. The court is the symbol of the state and not an object of ridicule.
“Although the senior counsel appeared in this matter for the first, two senior counsel have previously appeared and promised that the defendant will appear for his arraignment.
“In the absence of any cogent excuse to produce the defendant for arraignment, a bench warrant is hereby issued against the defendant,” the court ruled.
Nevertheless, Justice Ijelu rescheduled the case for the defendant’s arraignment on November 15, 2023.
