TOMPOLO DECLRARES WAR ON EFCC – Move to quash the warrant of arrest issued against him – Tompolo’s lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa said his team of solicitors have been told to accelerate the process of hearing the appeal – Asks the court to transfer his case to another judge

Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, a former militant leader has headed to the Court of Appeal in a bid to quash the warrant of arrest issued against him, Premium Times reports. Tompolo, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after refusing to show up before a Federal High Court in Lagos to answer the charges preferred against him by the anti-graft agency, is also asking the court to transfer his case to another judge. These requests were contained in a statement issued on February 21 by Tompolo’s lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, who disclosed that his team of solicitors have been told to accelerate the process of hearing the appeal as quick as possible. “He is a law abiding citizen who is only demanding that the Federal Government should show compliance with the rule of law and due process, in the filing and prosecution of any crime that may be alleged against him. “The relevant law enforcement agencies are being notified with the details of the appeal, so that they may be well cautioned from taking undue advantage of the criminal charge to wreck havoc upon Gbaramatu kingdom or to harass the family, relatives, friends and well wishers ‎of Tompolo,” Adegboruwa said. The former militant leader is challenging the federal court ruling which dismissed his application to set aside the warrant for his arrest. ‎‎ The statement read:“Tompolo also complained that the learned trial court should have ascertained that the EFCC duly complied with the order of the court for substituted service‎, by posting the charge at the correct address as contained in the order of the court. “Tompolo stated further that the application leading to the issuance of the warrant of arrest was not competently placed before the court, as the counsel that signed and filed it on behalf of the EFCC failed to affix his seal thereto, as required by law.” Mr Ekpemupolo’s counsels contended that the summons and criminal charges preferred against their client were not pasted at the property on No.1 Chief Agbamu Close, DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta state. Tompolo in the notice of appeal filed by the law firms of Mr. Adegboruwa and Tayo Oyetibo, posited that the court erred in law by declining to set aside the arrest warrant as there was no evidence to show he had been notified of the summons and the criminal charges leveled against him. Meanwhile, joined as respondents in the appeal comprise the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd and Kime Engozu. Others include Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu, and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. A Federal High court on January 14, issued a warrant for the arrest of Tompolo after he failed twice to show at the court to stand trial for his alleged criminal charges. The Federal High Court judge, Ibrhaim Buba, who is handling the case in a reaction to Tompolo’s disrespect for the law, renewed the arrest warrant on February 8, a development that propelled the EFCC to declare the former militant leaders wanted. Tompolo and the former director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi are accused of looting billions of naira from the agency.