The Lagos State High Court sitting in the Ikeja area on Friday 3 November 2023 issued an order of arrest against Cletus Ibeto, Chairman and CEO of Energy Development Company for allegedly neglecting to appear in court to stand trial on alleged 4.8 billion Naria fraud.
The bench warrant was issued by Justice
Isamil Ijelu after a motion moved by Rotimi Jacob, SAN, counsel for the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who informed the judge of the
defendant absence again in court despite repeated hearing notice served on him.
The reason for the defendant’s order of
arrest is due to his failure to respect the court by appearing before it for
trail, however on two occasions, his lawyer, Onyechi Ikepeazu, SAN, informed
the court that his absence was due to his ill health. Nonetheless he promised
to provide him in court today, 3 November 2023.
Despite the promised by his lawyer, when
the matter was called today, Ibeto was represented by another lawyer, Dada
Awosika, SAN, who also told the court that his client’s absence is still due to
his ill health.
In line with this development, the Counsel
for EFCC, Rotimi Jacob urged the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest
of Cletus, claiming that the defendant was in Lagos and the Commission could
have arrested him if the court has issued them the order to do so. In fact, the
defendant, together with his company was charged by EFCC under a 10-count
charge of fraud, conspiracy, forgery and fraudulent use of document etc.
“Senior lawyer 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”.
The court therefore held that the defence counsel did not adduce any vital reason for the court to grant his request for further adjournment and that the existence of the court is not for vague reason rather to dispense justice. Thus, the court ruled;
“The defence counsel decided to waste the court’s time. The court is the symbol of the state and not and 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 absence of any cogent excuse to produce the defendant for arraignment, a bench warrant is hereby issued against the defendant”.
Subsequently the matter has been adjourned by Justice Ijelu to November 15, 2023, for the defendant arraignment.
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