Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo, may be wanted by all the security agencies in the land, but he’s found time to file charges against the federal government of Nigeria from his hiding place.
Through his counsel, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Tompolo has approached the federal high court in Lagos, seeking an order restraining the Federal Government and its agencies from proceeding with the N45.9bn fraud charges filed against him.
Tompolo contends that sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits him from seeking stay of proceedings in his trial, are infringing on his constitutional rights to fair hearing.
The retired Niger Delta militant is also urging the court to not only nullify sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA but to also restrain the Federal Government, the EFCC and the IGP from deploying those sections of the law against him.
Tompolo’s counsel argues that sections 221 and 306 were in conflict with Section 36 of the Constitution, which guarantees his client’s right to fair hearing.
Tompolo is also urging the Court of Appeal not only to vacate the arrest warrant issued against him but to also disqualify Justice Buba from presiding over his case.
Adegboruwa’s suit reads in part: “The federal government is not entitled to file, initiate, prosecute or in any other manner, pursue any criminal charge or information against the applicant, in any manner that will constitute a flagrant violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to fair hearing as guaranteed under Sections 36(1), (4) and (6) as well as the inherent powers of a court of law under Section 6(6)(a)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”
Tompolo has a bench warrant hovering over his head and has twice spurned court invitations to defend himself alongside 9 others for an alleged N45.9bn fraud.
The post Wanted Tompolo sues federal government appeared first on Ekekeee.
