A Rivers State High Court presid­ed over by Justice Boma Diepiri has ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has the statutory powers to investigate the allegations of fraud made against Chief Clem­ent Ibeto and his companies by the Executive Chairman of Dozzy Group of Companies, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie.

In a ruling on the funda­mental rights enforcement action filed at the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, by Chief Clement Ibeto, who alleged he was detained by the operatives of the EFCC when he honoured their invitation at Abuja, the court held that the EFCC is vested with the statu­tory powers to investigate the allegations of fraud relating to title documents in respect of a failed land transaction between Ibeto and Chukwudozie; and that the court would not hast­ily interfere with the statutory powers of law enforcement agencies in the exercise of their statutory right to investi­gate alleged offences and detain where necessary for proposes of such investigations.

The court further held that fraud is a ground for vitiating a judgment of court in demon­stration of the seriousness at­tached by the law to fraud and that the fact that Ibeto denied the allegations of fraud made against him in the petition, makes it more compelling for the EFCC to investigate the allegation with a view to establishing the truth. (Daily Independent)