The appeal lodged by Chief Cletus Ibeto, the Chairman of Ibeto Group of Companies at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Zone, seeking the vacation of the Bench Warrant earlier ordered by the Hon. Justice Ijelu sitting at the Ikeja Division of the High Court of Lagos State against him, for not presenting himself for arraignment on 3rd November, 2023 came up at the Court of Appeal sitting at Lagos on Monday, 15th January, 2024.
At last Thursday’s proceedings, lead Counsel to Chief Ibeto, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, leading two other Senior Advocates, Uche Val Obi SAN and Bode Olanipekun, SAN amongst other Counsel, informed the Court that they were prepared to proceed with the hearing of the appeal, but the learned Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, instead informed the Court that there were serious moves by the Parties to have the matter settled amicably out of court, and suggested that a chance be given to such initiative instead of proceeding with the hearing of the case.
The Court having earlier observed that the case was actually scheduled for hearing of interlocutory applications as opposed to the main appeal, adjourned the matter till 7th May, 2024, for hearing of both pending motions and the main appeal, except a settlement is reached by the parties and before then.
