NEWS
EFCC Raises Eyebrows At Lagos AG’s Influence In Ibeto Fraud Trial
The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed concern about the Lagos State Attorney-General’s plan to handle the N4.8 billion fraud case against Chief Cletus Ibeto, Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company.
Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), EFCC’s counsel, raised objections in the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, alleging that this move could disrupt the trial.
This assertion came after the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Jide Martins, mentioned to Justice Ismail Ijelu that the Attorney-General is contemplating taking over the case following a petition from the defendant.
The defendant, along with his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd, faced a 10-count charge from the anti-graft agency, involving conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent use of documents.
Despite attempts to arraign the defendant on September 28, October 5, and November 3, his absence in court led to three adjournments, despite representation by his legal team.
On November 3, 2023, Justice Ijelu granted the prosecution’s request to issue an arrest order for the businessman, citing his repeated failure to appear for his plea despite assurances from his legal team.
During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Martins informed the court about a petition from the law firm of Robert Clarke (SAN), requesting a review of the case file and advocating for the Attorney-General’s direct intervention to take over the case.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the court that while the Ministry of Justice has requested the case file from the EFCC, the Attorney-General has yet to make a decision regarding this matter.
In response, the defense counsel, Uche Obi (SAN), requested an adjournment until the matter concerning legal representation is clarified and resolved.
Obi said, “An issue of legal representation has just arisen in court this morning. The learned DPP has asked for an opportunity to reappraise the complainant’s complaint, and the State has to be given a chance to take that decision. It appears that nothing else can be done today (Tuesday) but to allow for a reasonable time for the State to decide.”
In response, Jacobs highlighted to the judge that the defendant had engaged four different lawyers, seemingly as part of an attempt to disrupt the proceedings of the case.
The senior lawyer stated “This is not a case that the Lagos State Attorney-General can take over because the primary counts of the charge are based on Federal laws.
“Section 211 limits the State AG to the takeover of state’s offences, and this power cannot be extended to Section 174, which is on federal crimes.
“The Attorney-General’s letter to this court was written without hearing from us, and the purpose was to shield the defendant from appearing before this court, and when he is seized of the whole matter, he will change his mind.”
In his ruling, Justice Ijelu acknowledged that the primary court business was the defendants’ arraignment.
The prosecutor informed the court that the bench warrant couldn’t be executed as the defendant was abroad.
Additionally, the defense counsel stated that the defendant was in Dallas, USA, receiving treatment for a severe ailment.
The judge, after considering these submissions, emphasized the need to resolve the representation issue between the prosecutor on record and the Attorney-General, as it had become a significant point requiring resolution.
Justice Ijelu adjourned the case to January 29, 2024, to address and resolve the matters concerning representation and prosecution of the defendant.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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