The arraignment of billionaire Cletus Ibeto charged with N4.8 billion fraud at an Ikeja High Court suffered another setback on Thursday following his absence in court for the third time.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 10-count charge against Ibeto, alongside his company, Ibeto Energy Development Company, before Justice Ismail Ijelu.
The offences bordered on obtaining by pretenses, fraudulent conversion of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery and deception.
EFCC’s counsel Rotimi Jacobs told the court that the case was adjourned on September 28 to Thursday for arraignment following the absence of the defendant.
Jacobs said the court adjourned the matter based on the application of the defendants for them 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.
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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.
