Court issues bench warrant for ex-militant leader’s arrest

Following the refusal of Tompolo aka Government Ekpemupolo to appear before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

You will recall that an order summoning the ex-militant warlord to appear in court on Thursday, January 14, 2016, was issued.

Tompolo, while reacting to the news of his summons, denied knowledge of any court order.

Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Festus Keyamo, said the anti-graft agency will apply for a bench warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.

He said “The 1st accused person has consistently, even at the point of investigations, spurned all invitations to make statement to the commission.”

Keyamo also said “We have extended an invitation to him to come and answer charges, but like an outlaw, he put out a full page advert, saying that nobody should push him to war; in a country with laws.

“The judiciary will not take such nonsense from anybody in a country governed by law and that is why we are applying for a warrant for his arrest to let us know if he is an outlaw."

Tompolo and Patrick Akpobolokemi, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), are being accused of N13b fraud by the EFCC.