A bench warrant for the arrest of a billionaire businessman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, has been issued by Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The warrant of arrest was issued against Ibeto on Friday, November 3, 2023, for failing to appear in court for his arraignment over an alleged N4.8 billion fraud.
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The Judge had, on October 5, 2023, adjourned till November 3, 2023, the arraignment of Ibeto alongside Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings on 10-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretences, fraudulent conversion of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery and deception, following an application and appeal by his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).
However, at Friday’s proceedings, Ibeto was, again, absent in court.
After listening to all the arguments, Justice Ijelu, in his ruling, held that the defendant must take his plea before any application could be taken.
“The notice of preliminary objection filed in this case as referred by the defence counsel is challenging the jurisdiction of the court. The law is that jurisdictional issues can be raised at any time in the proceedings. However, the court is of the view that the question of jurisdiction should not be employed to delay the dispensation of justice.
“From the record of this court, it appears evident that an attempt is being made to shield the defendant from arraignment in this case under so many disguises. In the circumstance, the court holds that defendants have to take their pleas and thereafter bring their objection, which the court should consider along with the substantive issues and a ruling made,” he said.
Thereafter, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) applied to the court for the issuance of a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant.
Ibeto’s lawyer, D. A. Awosika (SAN) told the court that the defendant was old and had underlying health issues. He, therefore, raised an objection to the application, arguing that “there’s no basis for the bench warrant.”
The court, however, held that there was no cogent reason placed before the court for the continuous absence of the defendant.
The objection of the defence to the application for a bench warrant was, thereafter, dismissed by the trial judge.
Justice Ijelu held that “ The application for bench warrant succeeds, and this case is further adjourned till November 15, 2023 for arraignment.”
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