Former militant leader, Chief
Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), has challenged the warrant of arrest
issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to compel his appearance in court to answer
to the criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He is praying the court to
discharge the bench warrant issued against him.
EFCC, in the charge, had accused
Tompolo and others of diverting the sum of N34 billion belonging to the
Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim
Buba, had on January 12, 2016, following an application by EFCC’s counsel,
issued a bench warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.
In the application challenging
the bench warrnt issued against him, Tompolo is arguing that the EFCC did not
follow due process of law in applying for an order of substituted service of
the criminal charge against him, adding that no service of the charge was
effected as directed by the court before the EFCC applied for a warrant of
arrest against him.
He is further claiming, through
his counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, that up till the time of filing the
application, he had not been served with the criminal charge nor indeed any
warrant of arrest.
According to him, whereas he was
prepared to appear in court and answer to any charge against him, he insists
that due process of law must be followed and his rights under the law be
guaranteed, especially the right to be notified and served with the charge
against him.
He also called the attention of
the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and indeed the Navy to
the fact that he is challenging the order made against him, so that overzealous
persons do not take advantage of the court process to attempt to trample on his
legal rights.
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