Court Orders Security Agencies to Produce Tompolo

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday ordered security agencies to produce former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo during its next sitting.

Justice Ibrahim Buba in his ruling also denied the objection filed before it by the former militant leader, asking that bench warrant earlier issued for his arrest be set aside.

Buba said the application by Tompolo’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, urging the court to set aside an earlier order of substituted service was “misconceived, misplaced, and inapplicable.”

Buba said, “Up till today, the first defendant has refused to honour the invitation of the court to appear before it.”

“The whole essence of service is to make the person aware of charges facing him.‎ By bringing an application before the court, the first defendant had become aware of the charge before the court.”

He adjourned the matter till February 19th while ordering security agencies to produce Tompolo during the court’s next sitting.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recently arraigned Tompolo and former Director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, over a multibillion naira fraud at the agency, alongside a few others.

Earlier, counsel to EFCC told the court that all the accused persons reported to the Commission’s office by 7 a.m. on Monday ahead of their court appearance, except Tompolo.

Keyamo told the Judge that Tompolo’s continued refusal to appear before the court as well as EFCC’s invitations were an affront on the judiciary.