The arraignment of billionaire Cletus Ibeto, who is facing charges of N4.8 billion fraud, encountered yet another setback on Thursday as he was absent from the Ikeja High Court for the third consecutive time.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had lodged a 10-count charge against Ibeto and his company, Ibeto Energy Development Company, which was set to be heard before Justice Ismail Ijelu. These charges encompassed offenses related to obtaining by pretenses, fraudulent property conversion, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and deception.
Rotimi Jacobs, the counsel representing EFCC, informed the court that the case had been adjourned to Thursday, September 28, for the purpose of arraignment due to the defendant’s absence. This adjournment had been granted based on the defendants’ request to appear for arraignment.
“The defence counsel appeared for them that day and pleaded with your lordship that the first defendant had medical issue.
“He had promised to produce him on the next day of adjourned and that is why we are here,” he said.
Jacobs agreed that plea bargain was encouraged even in criminal matters.
He, however, said the commission gave the parties the opportunity to go and resolve their differences and that they did not seize the opportunity, even before the charges were filed.
“My lord, there should be arraignment of the defendant first, before the court will assume jurisdiction to do anything,” Jacobs said.
The defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), in his response, said the law was not a respecter of any person and he was of the firm view that the matter, if given some time, could be resolved.
Ikpeazu, however, said he had no medical report with him in court to explain the absence of the defendant.
The court expressed concerns that the defence counsel seemed to try to deceive the court.
The judge adjourned the case until November 3 for possible arraignment.
