CourtA suspected pipeline vandal, Kingsley Ibeto, played a fast one on a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Professor Chuka Obiozor, and disappeared after his plea was taken.
Ibeto, who was arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on unlawful dealing in petroleum products.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Ezeli Rita, are contrary to section 3(6) of Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 1(7) of the same act.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After his ‘not guilty’ plea, and in an attempt by his lawyer, Babatunde Adeyanju, to secure his bail, Ibeto informed the court that he had filed a bail application, which was not in the court’s file.
However, Justice Obiozor, who confirmed that the application was not in his file, consequently stood down the matter and asked the court registry to produce the application.
The prosecutor had also told the court that she was yet to be served the bail application.
While the matter was stood down for his bail application to be brought before the court, the accused disappeared.
Suspected pipeline vandal escapes from court during proceedings
