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From Tony John
As the land matter between Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited and Chief Cletus Ibeto, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ibeto Group, resumed at the Rivers State High Court, Chief Cletus Ibeto, who is his Company’s witness in the land tussle concluded his evidence in chief and cross examination by Dozzy Oil’s lead Counsel, E.C. Ukala (SAN).
During the proceeding, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala(SAN), counsel to Dozzy Oil and Gas Ltd, asked Chief Ibeto, as follows – “you tendered exhibit 15 and 16 with which you said you purchased the land from Bundu Ama community sometime in 2007.
“You also tendered Exhibit 24; show the court where it was stated in the Rivers State Government panel”s report that the land will revert back to the original owners?”
Chief Ibeto, stated that he’s aware of the government panel’s recommendations before he purchased the land. That it was the reason he specifically wrote the state government seeking clarifications, and they replied by asking him to proceed with the purchase. But he didn’t say whether any part of the panel’s recommendation specified that the land should revert back to the owners.
This posture elicited a ding dong argument between him and Chief Ukala.
He refused to acknowledge the absence or otherwise of the clause that the land will revert back to the owners.
The court magnanimously granted him some minutes break to enable him go through the documents. But at the resumption of proceedings Chief Ibeto stated that he was authorised by the state government to proceed to purchase the land.
However, Chief Ukala asked whether he was aware of a Special state government gazette that listed all the lands that were revoked by the Graham Douglas Committee report. Ibeto said no, that the land in question measured 20.7 hectares.
He further asked Ibeto: “You acknowledged being aware the land was revoked in 2001, yet went back in 2010/2017 to buy from some parcel of the same land from the owners, Nigeria Shipbuilders Limited?” Ibeto said that those who wanted to sell approached him and he bought it.
Another area of intense disagreement was on the issue of $3million, which Chief Ibeto insisted that he did not borrow it from Dozzy Oil and Gas boss, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie. That instead it was sold to him and he paid the Naira equivalent. Again, when the second USD 3,000,000 given to him in October 2015, after the initial USD 3,000,000, which was given to him on September, 2015 was mentioned, Ibeto quickly claimed there was no such transaction.
But Ukala informed him that it was the second USD3000,000 that brought up the amount in dispute to N4billion for the sale land , considering that the total funds transferred to him in Naira was about N3.2 Billion, a the total sum (N4,000,000,000) he admitted to have received from Dozzy. And, that there was a dispute with the conversion/ exchange rate. Ibeto said he sincerely does not know.
He added, “my Lord I’m under oath. What I’m saying is true. There was no second S3million. I’m happy the counsel (Ukala) knows me very well.”
Ibeto also acknowledged receiving the letter from the Rivers State government dated March 5,2018 requesting him to return the Certified True Copy of the Land documents of Ibeto Energy Development Company Limited relating to the land on grounds that its certification by the Registrar of Titles was in error.
He said he didn’t return the documents because there was nothing wrong with it. But when taken up on whether he got any letter from the Ministry of Lands and Survey, to the effect that the certification of his documents done for him was in error or fake. He said he didn’t receive any such letter.
It was also discovered that Ibeto had engaged a private surveyor instead a government surveyor to survey government land and could have been why the approval was withdrawn.
Ibeto said he was not interested in that, insisting that the surveyor must not be working in the Surveyor General’s office. That if he (names withheld) were not approved, the Surveyor General’s office would not have registered him.
The court adjourned continuation of the case till February 15, 16, 17, 2023.
