A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has sentenced businesswoman Oluremi Phillips to 17 years imprisonment for fraud involving N57,690,000. Justice I.O. Ijelu delivered the ruling on December 12, 2024, convicting Phillips and her company, Omritas Energy Limited, on five charges of theft and issuing dud cheques. Background of the Case The defendant, initially arraigned on January 27, 2022, before Justice S.O. Solebo, faced delays when Justice Solebo retired in November 2022, leading to the case being reassigned. On May 22, 2023, Phillips and Omritas Energy Limited were re-arraigned before Justice Ijelu. Key Charges Include: Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the prosecution presented compelling evidence, including witness testimonies and documents. Verdict and Sentencing Justice Ijelu ruled that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendants: Restitution and Company Shutdown The court ordered the restitution of N57,690,000 to the victim, AYM Shafa Limited, within 90 days. If the company fails to fulfill this order, it will be wound up. The ruling highlights the consequences of fraudulent practices and the justice system’s commitment to protecting victims of financial crimes. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has dismissed the N4.8 billion fraud case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Chief Cletus Ibeto, Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company. The presiding judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala, struck out the charges following EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informing the court that Chief Ibeto had refunded N3.2 billion of the amount allegedly stolen from Chief Daniel Chukwudozie, the complainant in the case. Background on the Case The EFCC initially filed a 10-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent document usage against Chief Ibeto and his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Limited. Despite multiple attempts, Ibeto’s arraignment was delayed due to his absence from court, although his legal team represented him in proceedings. On November 3, 2023, Justice Ismail Ijelu, the former trial judge, issued an arrest warrant for Ibeto after repeated failures to appear in court. However, in February 2024, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, reassigned the case to Justice Ogala after Ibeto’s defense team accused Justice Ijelu of bias and questioned the court’s jurisdiction. Case Resolution At a resumed hearing, EFCC’s counsel Jacobs informed the court that the parties had agreed to resolve the matter amicably through an out-of-court settlement. Defense counsel, Adebayo Oshodi, confirmed this resolution and assured the court that his client had refunded a significant portion of the money. He also clarified that no unresolved issues remained between the parties. Key Points This ruling marks the end of a lengthy legal battle, with all parties agreeing to a settlement outside the courtroom. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
