The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday ordered the arrest of the Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Cletus Ibeto, for allegedly refusing to appear in court to face his alleged N4.8bn fraud trial.

Justice Ismail Ijelu issued the bench warrant after a motion moved by the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who informed the court that the defendant had flagrantly failed and refused to appear in court despite repeated hearing notice served on him.

The EFCC had charged the defendant alongside his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Limited, for an alleged N4.8bn fraud.

The commission filed 10 charges bordering on conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent use of documents against him.

The defendant’s arraignment was stalled on September 28 and October 5, 2023, due to his failure to appear in court, although he was represented by his lawyers.

Twice, his lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), informed the court that his client was absent due to ill health. He, however, promised to produce him on Friday.

But when the matter was called on Friday, he was represented by another counsel, Daniel Awosika (SAN), who told the court that the defendant was sick and could not be in court.

Following the development, Jacobs urged the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the businessman.

Jacobs claimed that the defendant was in Lagos, and the commission could have arrested him, but it did not have the order of the court to do so.

He said, “Senior lawyers cannot come to court and waste the court’s time. We urge the court to grant us a warrant of arrest to force the defendant to court.”

In his ruling, Justice Ijelu held that the defence counsel did not adduce any compelling reason for him to grant his request for adjournment.

The judge further stated that the court did not exist for frivolities as it only existed for dispensing justice.

“The defence counsel decided to waste the court’s time. The court is the symbol of the state and not an object of ridicule.

“Although the senior counsel appeared in this matter for the first time , two senior counsel have previously appeared and promised that the defendant will appear for his arraignment.

“In the absence of any cogent excuse to produce the defendant for arraignment, a bench warrant is hereby issued against the defendant,” the court ruled.

Justice Ijelu thereafter adjourned the matter till November 15, 2023, for the arraignment of the defendant.