Justice Ijelu issued the arrest warrant following a motion moved by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had flagrantly failed and refused to appear in court despite repeated hearing notices served on him.
Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos High Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State on Friday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Chairman/CEO of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Cletus Ibeto, over his alleged refusal to appear before the court to stand trial on allegations of N4.8billion fraud.
Justice Ijelu issued the arrest warrant following a motion moved by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had flagrantly failed and refused to appear in court despite repeated hearing notices served on him.
Recall that the EFCC had dragged Ibeto alongside his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd to court over an alleged N4.8 billion fraud.
The commission filed a 10-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery and fraudulent use of documents.
The defendant’s arraignment was stalled on September 28 and October 5 due to his failure to appear in court, although he was represented by his lawyers.
However, on the two occasions, his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), informed the judge that his client was absent due to ill health. He, however, promised to produce him in court today.
But when the matter was called on Friday, Ibeto was represented by another counsel, Dada Awosika (SAN), who also informed the court that the defendant was sick and could not attend court proceedings.
In reaction, the EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, urged the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the businessman.
Jacobs claimed that the defendant was in Lagos and the Commission could have arrested him but it did not have the order of the court to do so.
He said, “Senior lawyers cannot 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.”
Justice Ijelu in his ruling held that the defence counsel did not adduce any compelling reason for the court to grant his request for adjournment, hence, he said that the court did not exist for frivolities as it only existed for dispensing justice.
Justice Ijelu said that “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 time, two senior counsels 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 judge thereafter adjourned the matter to November 15 for the arraignment of the defendant.
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