THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Chairman of Dozzy Oil and Gas Ltd, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, have asked a Rivers State High Court to dismiss a suit filed by the Chairman of Ibeto Group, Chief Cletus Ibeto.
In the suit numbered PHC/268/FHR/2022, Ibeto is praying the court to stop the EFCC from investigating allegations of fraud bordering on obtaining N4.8 billion false pretence, forgery and criminal breach of trust levelled against him by Dozzy Oil and Gas.
Ibeto had filed an originating motion on notice, praying the court to declare that the commission lacks powers to interfere in land disputes.
He prayed the court to declare his alleged harassment by the commission unlawful and to restrain it from arresting him.
He also prayed the court to order the commission to pay him N500million damages for depriving him of his fundamental human rights as a Nigerian citizen.
When the case came up for hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Simon Ibekwute, drew the court’s attention to the respondent’s preliminary objection filed on February 21.
He argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit in Rivers State because the alleged infringement of the applicant’s rights occurred in Abuja.
The EFCC’s counsel also filed a motion for extension of time as his processes were not within the time limit as provided by law.
Sir Daniel’s counsel, Okey Obikeze, also informed the court that he filed a preliminary objection to Ibeto’s motion.
Henry Bello, who stood for Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the lead counsel for Ibeto, told the court that he was yet to file his reply to the EFCC’s preliminary objection.
Counsel for Ibeto and Chukwudozie did not oppose EFCC’s motion for extension of time.
Justice Boma Diepiri adjourned till April 12 for hearing.
He directed parties to file all their processes before the adjourned date.
Chief Ibeto was invited by the EFCC to produce documents to support his claim that he is the owner of the parcel of lands measuring 20.293 hectares which he sold to the Chairman of Dozzy Oil and Gas.
However, after allegedly failing to provide the documents, he approached the High Court in Port Harcourt to determine the legality of his invitation by the EFCC.
Chief Chukwudozie alleged that he was approached by Chief Ibeto to purchase a parcel of land situated at Reclamation Layout Phase 2 Port Harcourt, but only to discover that the said property did not belong to the claimant (Ibeto) and his companies.
Chief Ibeto denied the fraud allegations.
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