Kingsley Ibeto, a suspected pipeline vandal,who was arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos on two counts charge bordering on unlawful dealing in petroleum product played a fast game on the court on Wednesday as he disappeared into after his plea was taken on the charges.
Ibeto was charged before the court presided over by Justice (Professor) Chuka Obiozor, on the alleged crime by the Nigeria Civil and Security Defence Corps (NCSDC).
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Ezeli Rita, are contrary to section 3(6) of miscellaneous offence act, Cap. M17, Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 1(7) of the same act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After his plea of not guilty to the charge his lawyer, Babatunde Adeyanju in an attempt to secure his bail, informed the court that he has filed a bail application but that the said application is yet to be in court’s file.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Obiozor, told the lawyer that the application was not in his file and consequently stood down the matter for the court Registry to properly bring the application before the court.
However, before the matter was stood down, the prosecutor told the court that she was yet to be served with the bail application.
While the matter was stood down for accused bail application to be brought before the court, the accused, played a fast game on both his lawyer, the prosecution and the court, as he disappeared and could not be found anywhere near court premises..
When the matter was recalled after the bail application had been brought before the court for hearing the accused was nowhere to be found.
All calls put to him by his lawyer were ignored and unanswered. The situation left all that were in court confused.
When all efforts to locate the accused failed, his lawyer in an uncomfortable voice, pleaded with the court to grant him short adjournment to enable him fish out the accused.
Consequently, the Presiding Judge, Justice Obiozor, adjourned the matter.
