N4.8bn fraud: Again, Cletus Ibeto’s absence stalls arraignment

The arraignment of a businessman, Cletus Ibeto, before Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for an alleged N4.8 billion fraud was, again, stalled on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, due to his absence in court.

Ibeto alongside Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Limited were to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 10-count charges bordering on allegations of obtaining by false pretences, fraudulent conversion of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and deception to the tune of N4.8 billion.

Count one read: “That Chief Cletus Ibeto, Ibeto Energy Development Ltd and Odoh Holdings Ltd, between June 2016 and May 2017, within the jurisdiction of the court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained from Dozzy Oil & Gas Ltd and Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, the sum of N4.8bn purporting same to be consideration for 22.6536 hectares of land, which he claimed to have at the end of Reclamation Road Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State by a deed of sublease executed by Odoh Holdings and Ibeto Energy Development Ltd when he only had 7.9 hectares of the said land.”

Count three read: “That Chief Cletus Ibeto, Ibeto Energy Development Ltd and Odoh Holdings Ltd. on or about January 30, 2018, allegedly with intent to defraud, forged a Deed Of Sublease between Odoh Holdings Ltd and Ibeto Development Ltd purportedly, registered as No 47, Page 47, Vol. 280 of the Lands Registry, Rivers State wherein they claimed that Odoh Holdings Ltd acquired leasehold interest in respect of 22.6536.”

The defendants were further accused of obtaining N2.5 billion from their victims as consideration for a non-existent 14.1 hectares of land.

The offences, the EFCC said, are contrary to Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006, Section 365(3d) and (e), and Section 366 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Ibeto’s new counsel, Uche Obi, told the court that the absence of the defendant was due to ill-health.

He said: “The first defendant is indisposed in Dallas, United States, where he is receiving treatment for a life-threatening illness.

“So, contrary to the allegation of the prosecution, he did not sneak out of the country after the bench warrant.”

He, thereafter, presented to the court a medical report to back his claim.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Ijelu adjourned till January 29, 2024, and held that “the issue of representation is in contention and has to be resolved; and so, this case is further adjourned for report on resolution as to legal representation for the prosecution.”

The Star