Ibet's absence once again stalls arraignment on charges of 4.8 billion Norwegian fraud
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On Tuesday, his arraignment again stalled due to the absence of the businessman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, before Justice IO Ijeru of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on the N4.8 billion fraud charge.
Mr. Ibeto, along with his companies Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odo Holdings Ltd., were scheduled to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 10 charges.
The EFCC said in a statement that their arraignment is close to charges of obtaining by false pretense, misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery and deception amounting to N4.8 billion.
“Cletus Ibeto, Director General of Ibeto Energy Development Co., Ltd. and Odo Holdings Co., Ltd., committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the court between June 2016 and May 2017 under false pretenses and with fraudulent intent. The sum of 4.8 billion naira obtained from Doji Oil & Gas Ltd. and Sir Daniel Chukwudoji is claimed to be the consideration for 22.6536 hectares of land, which Odo Holdings and Ibeto Energy Development Ltd. entered into. He claimed ownership of the end of the reclaimed road layout in Port Harcourt, Rivers State through a sublease deed.The land he owned was only 7.9 hectares.''
“Secretary Cletus Ibeto, Ibeto Energy Development Co., Ltd. and Odo Holdings Co., Ltd., on or about January 30, 2018, with intent to defraud The deed was allegedly forged and registered as page number 47. 47, Vol. 280 of the Rivers State Land Registry, it is alleged that Odoh Holdings Ltd acquired a leasehold interest in respect of 22.6536 and three A read is being made.
The defendants are further accused of receiving a total of N2.5 billion from the victim for 14.1 hectares of land that does not exist.
These offenses violate Section 1 of the Advance Payment Fraud Act 2006, Section 365(3d) and (e) and Section 366 of the Lagos State Penal Code 2015.
The EFCC said in its proceedings on Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Lagos State Attorney General’s Office, Dr. Babajide Martins, noted that the state was not involved in the matter.
The commission added that Mr. Martins also told the court that the Lagos Attorney General’s Office had received a petition from Robert Clark Law Offices (SAN).
“I have come to inform the court that I have received a petition from the defendant in this case requesting that the Attorney General's Office take over this case pursuant to Article 211 of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.
“I have written to the court to that effect. No decision has been made yet and that decision will only be taken when the AG’s office receives the case file. We have written to the EFCC. Sent.”
Mr. Martins further informed the court that the said petition dated November 16, 2023 was received at the Office of the State Directorate on November 16, 2023.
He also disclosed that he had written a letter to that effect and sent it to the EFCC on Friday, December 1, 2023.
“The letter notified us that we had received the petition and that we needed to send the case file to the Honorable Attorney General's Office,” Martins said.
“Upon receipt of the case file, the AG will decide whether to proceed based on its merits.”
Meanwhile, Mr Ibeto’s new lawyer, Mr Uche Obi, the fourth since September 28, 2023, told the court that he is in possession of Wole Olanipekun (SAN) briefs.
He claimed that “the issue of legal representation only arose on Tuesday morning” with the appearance of a lawyer from the AG's office.
In response, prosecuting lawyer Rotimi Jacob (SAN) said: “My friend did not appreciate the intervention by the informed Democratic Progressive Party. The idea is that it has not been done.”
After hearing arguments from all parties, Judge Igel adjourned until January 29, 2024, stating that “the matter of representation is pending and needs to be resolved, so this case cannot be handled by the prosecution's legal representative.” The matter will be further postponed pending a report on the resolution of the matter.” ”.
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Source: guardian.ng