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N4.8bn fraud: Court issues arrest warrant against Cletus Ibeto

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A state high court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has issued a warrant of arrest against Cletus Ibeto, a businessman, over his failure to appear before the court for trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 10-count charge against Ibeto, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings.

The charge borders on obtaining by false pretense, fraudulent conversion of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery and deception.

On October 5, the trial was adjourned till November 3 over the failure of Ibeto, chief executive officer of Ibeto Energy Development Company, to attend the court sitting.

FRIDAY’S COURT PROCEEDINGS

During the proceedings on Friday, Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecution counsel, told the court that the businessman was scheduled for arraignment.

Jacobs said the defendant had been absent at previous sittings on September 28, and October 5, 2023.

“Your lordship will recall that on the 28th of September 2023, this matter came up for arraignment and my friend, Okoko, SAN appeared for the defendants and pleaded with my lord for adjournment till 5th of October 2023 to enable him produce the defendant,” Jacobs said.

“Your lordship graciously granted the request. On the 5th of October, my learned brother silk, Ikpeazu, SAN, came and represented the defendants and also pleaded with your lordship for adjournment on the grounds that he wanted to talk to the prosecution to do a plea bargain.

“Your lordship insisted that the defendant, whatever step to be taken, must be present in court.

“Today, the learned senior advocate did not appear. They now brought another counsel to again say that he is not in court.”

Responding, Dada Awosika, counsel to the defendant, apologised for the absence of his client, adding that the businessman is battling an underlying ailment.

Awosika urged the court to allow the defence team to move an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court on the matter.

Displeased with the proposed application, the EFCC counsel said the court should not take any application until the court assumes jurisdiction first and sees that the arraignment takes place.

Jacobs asked the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the businessman.

But Awosika disagreed, saying the defendant is old and that there is no basis for the bench warrant.

I.O. Ijelu, the trial judge, ruled that there is no cogent reason before the court for the continuous absence of the defendant.

“The application for a bench warrant succeeds,” Ijelu said.

The case was adjourned till November 25.

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Tinubu confirms Wura-Ola Adepoju as substantive immigration CG

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President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the appointment of Wura-Ola Adepoju as the substantive comptroller-general (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Adepoju reportedly disclosed the development to staff of the NIS during the comptroller-general’s parade on Wednesday.

“You may also wish to know, that through the grace of God and by the benevolence of the present government, I have been confirmed as a substantive comptroller-general of immigration,” she said.

She added that the date for decoration would be announced soon.

Anyanwu Ifeanyi, spokesperson for the NIS, confirmed the development to newsmen.

“Yes, she has been confirmed as comptroller-general,” he said in a text message.

On May 29, Adepoju was appointed acting CG, replacing Isah Jere whose tenure expired on May 29.

Stakeholders had commended the appointment of Adepoju as the first south-western, female acting comptroller-general of the NIS, describing it as historic.

The stakeholders said the appointment will inspire female officers to give the best to their careers in hopes of reaching the peak.

The Yoruba Heritage Group had also lauded Tinubu for the appointment, commending him for “breaking the jinx” by allowing a Yoruba person in the position.

The group had also appealed to Tinubu to confirm Adepoju’s appointment as the substantive immigration CG, adding that she has the competence and capacity to push reforms that will transform the service.

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EFCC warns Nigerians against Facebook user claiming to be Olukoyede

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned Nigerians against dealing with a Facebook user parading himself as Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the anti-graft agency.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC head of media and publicity, in a statement on Wednesday, said the impersonator has been advertising a telephone line claiming to be Olukoyede’s “private line”.

He urged the public to be wary of the antics of the impostor, adding that efforts are ongoing to bring him to book.

“An impersonator parading himself as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede is on Facebook,” the statement reads.

“The fake Olukoyede has also been advertising a phony telephone line, 08028189925 as the “private line” of the EFCC’s boss.

“The public is enjoined to be wary of the antics of the impersonator, while efforts are being made to bring him to book.”

The development comes hours after the EFCC alerted Nigerians to how fraudsters are swapping automated teller machine (ATM) cards of innocent people.

The anti-graft agency in a statement on Tuesday said the fraudulent practice is gaining momentum across the country

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Emefiele fails to meet ₦300 million bail, to remain in prison till January 2024

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The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, is set to spend more time behind bars as he failed to produce the ₦300 million bail amount specified by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

The court had earlier granted him bail on charges related to corrupt practices.

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja had initially granted bail to Emefiele in the sum of ₦300 million, along with two sureties in like sum. The bail application was filed by his legal representative, Mathew Burkaa, SAN.

This decision comes after the former CBN governor had previously been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos, where he was required to pay ₦20 million.

The charges against Emefiele include allegations of corruptly conferring advantages on individuals and a company, as outlined in a six-count charge. Among the charges are the award of contracts for the supply of vehicles and other services, totaling over ₦1.2 billion.

The charges specify instances where Emefiele is accused of corruptly conferring advantages on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a CBN staff, by awarding contracts for the supply of 37 Hilux vehicles at a cost of ₦854.7 million in 2018.

Additionally, he is alleged to have conferred an advantage on a company with a CBN staff as a director by awarding a contract for the supply of one Toyota Avallon at the cost of ₦99.0 million.

The charges also involve the illegal award of contracts for the supply of Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles, with one incident in 2019 at the cost of ₦73.0 million and another in 2020 at the cost of ₦73.8 million.

Furthermore, Emefiele is accused of illegally awarding contracts for the supply of two Toyota Hilux in 2020 at ₦44.2 million and engaging in the illegal purchase of 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020, amounting to ₦1.2 billion.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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