Alleged N4.8bn fraud: New judge takes over Ibeto’s case

An Ikeja High Court on Friday ordered that a hearing notice be served on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the case of a businessman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, charged with N4.8 billion in fraud.

Supreme News reports that Justice Oyindamola Ogala ordered that the EFCC be served the hearing notice following their absence in court.

“This is a newly re-assigned matter before this court, and there is no representative of the EFCC in court.

“All parties must be informed about the re-assignment of this case.

“Hearing notice to be served on all parties,” she said.

The judge adjourned the case until March 11, for further proceeding.

When the case was called on Friday, neither the prosecution, EFCC, nor the defendants was present in court.

The defence counsel, Mr. Ade Oshodi, informed the court that there was no representation of the EFCC in court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, had appeared before the court as an interested party pursuant to Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and due to the petition written by the defendants asking the State’s Attorney General to take over the case.

Martins had told the court that the case file was taken back from Justice Ismail Ijelu by the chief judge.

EFCC had filed a 10-count charge against Ibeto, along with his company, Ibeto Energy Development Company, before Justice Ismail Ijelu.

Ijelu had, on Nov. 3, 2023, issued a bench warrant against Ibeto due to his incessant non-appearance in court.

The case also suffered a setback on October 5, 2023, when the EFCC Prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court of the absence of the defendant.

The case file was, therefore, re-assigned before Ogala.

The anti-graft commission said the alleged offences contravened the provisions of Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006 and Sections 365(3d) and (e) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.