The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has adjourned until September 16 the hearing of an appeal filed by Cletus Ibeto, Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company. Ibeto is challenging the jurisdiction of the state High Court to try him for an alleged N4.8 billion fraud.
Justice Muhammed Mustapha, presiding over the appellate court, adjourned the appeal to await the report of settlement talks between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ibeto. The EFCC had charged Ibeto and his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Limited, on a 10-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent use of documents before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.
Ibeto's appeal stems from his dissatisfaction with the order for his arrest by Justice Ismail Ijelu, who also refused to hear his preliminary objection. The defendant filed an appeal, alleging bias against Justice Ijelu, which led to the transfer of the case file to a new trial judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala.
During the appeal court proceedings, Justice Mustapha, along with Justices Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero and Paul Bassi, suspended the enforcement of the bench warrant issued against Ibeto by Justice Ijelu. This suspension came after Ibeto's lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, and the EFCC's counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, informed the court of ongoing settlement talks.
Adeniyi stated that Ibeto had refunded about N1.7 billion to the EFCC and had been making payments in line with the settlement proposal agreed upon. He argued against proceeding with the appeal, considering the progress in settlement.
In response, Chief Olanipekun confirmed the settlement talks and urged the court to vacate the bench warrant against his client. Justice Mustapha then suspended the enforcement of the warrant, encouraging the parties to continue negotiations until the next adjourned date.
