Title: Court Issues Bench Warrant for Arrest of Businessman Cletus Ibeto in Alleged N4.8bn Fraud Case.

In a significant development in an ongoing fraud case, Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of businessman Chief Cletus Ibeto. Ibeto, along with Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings, is facing charges of alleged N4.8bn fraud. The warrant was issued after Ibeto failed to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment.

The arraignment of Chief Cletus Ibeto and the two companies had been adjourned until November 3, 2023, following a request by Ibeto's lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN. The defense counsel had sought an adjournment, expressing confidence that the matter could be resolved given more time. However, Ibeto did not provide a medical report to explain his absence, leading to concerns from the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN.

Justice I.O. Ijelu expressed concerns about the defense counsel's intentions and adjourned the case for the arraignment of the defendants. However, on November 3, Ibeto was once again absent in court. The prosecution counsel reminded the court of the previous adjournments and the defendants' repeated non-appearance.

Defense's Argument, Counsel for the Defendants, D.A. Awosika, SAN, apologized for Ibeto's absence and explained that his client had an underlying ailment. Awosika argued that the defense had an application challenging the court's jurisdiction, which should be heard before the plea could be taken. He emphasized that Ibeto was not evading the court and requested the opportunity to move the application.

Implications and Next Steps on the above,

With the issuance of the bench warrant, the court has authorized the arrest of Chief Cletus Ibeto. The warrant signifies the seriousness of the case and the court's expectation that the defendant must appear for the legal proceedings. The court will now need to address the arrest warrant and decide whether to proceed with the arraignment or hear the defense's application challenging jurisdiction.

The issuance of a bench warrant for the arrest of Chief Cletus Ibeto in an alleged N4.8bn fraud case marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings. The court's decision underscores the importance of defendants appearing for their scheduled hearings and highlights the gravity of the charges against Ibeto and the two companies. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the court will address the arrest warrant and the defense's application challenging jurisdiction.