Alleged N4.8bn Fraud: Court Discloses When To Hear Ibeto’s Application On Jurisdiction
- The trial of the Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Chief Cletus Ibeto has been adjourned
- Justice Oyindamola Ogala adjourned the case to May 27, 2024, over an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge
- The EFCC had charged Ibeto on a 10-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent use of documents
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy
Ikeja, Lagos state - Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos state high court in Ikeja said the court will await the verdict of the Court of Appeal on the trial of the Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Chief Cletus Ibeto before taking any further steps on the matter.
Ogala adjourned the alleged N4.8 billion fraud case against Ibeto by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till May 27, 2024.
Source: UGC
The EFCC had charged the defendants before the court on a 10-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent use of documents.
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This was contained in a direct statement made available to Legit.ng from the court proceedings
The case was adjourned due to Ibeto’s counsel, Adedayo Oshodi challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge.
However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob opposed the application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
Jacob argued that Ibeto had filed an appeal on the same issue before the Court of Appeal and the appellate is yet to decide on it.
He added that the court could not entertain the application because the defendant has not submitted himself for trial.
Oshodi, however, counters Jacob, stating that Ibeto’s presence is not necessary given the pending application.
Court adjourns Ibeto's case till May 27
Justice Ogala ruled that hearing the defendant’s application would amount to nothing because the same issue is currently pending before the appellate court.
The trial judge stated this after listening to both parties, Jacob and Oshodi and adjourned the case till May 27
However, the defendant is yet to appear before the court to take his plea having challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.
Recall that the state high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state has given a Judgement on the same issue. In a judgment delivered on March 29, 2023, the State High Court declared Ibeto Energy Development Ltd as the rightful owner of the land. The court further rulled that since Sir Chukwudozie Daniel of Dozzy Oil did not complete the payment of the land in dispute, Chief Ibeto should make a refund of the money to him.
Being dissatisfied with the decision, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie and his companies lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal Port Harcourt Division. While the case was pending, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie filed a petition with the EFCC in Lagos to turn a failed civil land transaction into a criminal case.
A case that is already pending in the appeal court in Port Harcourt. This led to a charge being brought against Chief Dr. Cletus Ibeto in Charge No. ID/2149/23 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chief Cletus Ibeto. This is the basis of the jurisdictional objection filed by Chief Cletus Ibeto pending before the high court of Lagos in the criminal charge.
Ibeto faces arrest warrant in N4.8bn fraud case
Legit.ng earlier reported that Justice I.O. Ijelu, presiding over the Lagos state high court in Ikeja, Lagos, issued a bench warrant for the apprehension of Ibeto.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on the official Twitter (now X) page of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
The 10-count charges against Ibeto include false pretences, fraudulent conversion of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and deception.
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Source: Legit.ng
