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Tag: Tompolo

  • Tompolo’s associates arrested as hunt for militants goes on

    Tompolo’s associates arrested as hunt for militants goes on

    Security operatives  have arrested two associates of former militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo   (Tompolo).

    Simon Bebenimibo and Bomboy Oluba were arrested on Monday in an operation reportedly carried out by troops.

    Security sources said the operation, which was part of a special search for the operatives and leaders of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), was executed after a careful planning and a period of trailing the suspects.

    Although the Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion, Effunrun Barracks, Delta State, Major Monday Anzaku,  claimed not to have information on the development, another reliable security source said the troops stormed the suspects’ hideout at about 11am on Monday.

    “We stormed the hideout after intelligence revealed their abode. We have been on their trail for a while now but executed their arrests on Monday”, the source added.

    Also confirming the development last night, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) spokesman Eric Omare said he was informed that the suspects were still being detained.

    Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) spokesman Mr Daniel Ezekiel also confirmed the arrest. He castigated the military for allegedly breaking into a member’s home through the roof and arresting him without a court warrant.

    “We condemn the military action of breaking through the roof of Simeon Bebenimibo to gain unauthorised access into his privacy without a court warrant to arrest him, as such amount to kidnapping and abduction.

    ”This is barbaric, obnoxious, unlawful and incivility. The military has no such powers except empowered by a valid court warrant. It is so sad and we are disappointed”, he said in a terse statement.

  • Tompolo seeks meeting with Buhari

    Tompolo seeks meeting with Buhari

    • Says military option can’t work

    Former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo (AKA Tompolo) has expressed a wish to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on the Niger Delta crisis.

    Tompolo, in a letter to the President, a copy of which was obtained by our reporter, said the meeting would present him with an opportunity to tell President Buhari “my side of the numerous stories you have been inundated about me.”

    The former warlord hinted that it was in the interest of the nation for President Buhari to employ dialogue, stressing that he should learn from the 2009 invasion of Gbaramatu kingdom and the resultant offer of amnesty when military option failed.

    He said, “Mr President sir, please permit me to quickly recall a similar incident that occurred in May, 2009, when this same military invaded several communities in Gbaramatu kingdom, under the command of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    “Traditional worship centres were desecrated, property were looted and above all, the multi-billion naira ultra-modern magnificent palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom was burned down, and his golden crown was stolen by the military.”

    While recalling the 2009 invasion, Tompolo lamented the failure of the Federal Government to pay the N99bn compensation to the embattled community as was directed by the court.

    He said the kingdom approached the courts and demanded compensation for the unlawful invasion and destruction of property because of their peaceful disposition and belief in the rule of law.

    “After seven years of that sad incident, the Federal Government is yet to pay the compensation. This incident also led to the declaration of the Presidential Amnesty programme for peace to reign, as the government found out that military action is not the best way to address the Niger Delta question, and the rest become a history in the life of those who led that invasion.

    “I believe Mr President should learn a lesson from the 2009 military invasion and do the needful,”  Tompolo advised.

    Meanwhile, he appealed to the President to direct the army to return items including a golden sword that is the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu kingdom and other artefacts allegedly looted from shrines in Oporoza.

    “Today is exactly 31 days after (another) invasion of the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oporoza town, by your military led by Brig. General Faruk Yahaya of the 4th Brigade, Benin City, with the allegation that I am the one behind the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

    “I was informed that the army was on the loose, and committed so much abomination in the community.

    “The military made away with the symbol of Authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu Shrine, which I am the Chief Priest. They also made away with other valuables worth several millions of naira from the community.

    “The most annoying one is the purported arrest of 10 young promising men most of whom are orphans, who are secondary school students sitting for the West African Senior Secondary School Examinations (WASSCE) and other palace staff, and labelled them as members of the Niger Delta Avengers.

    “As I write you now, these innocent young promising men are still with your military for no reason. This is truly man’s inhumanity to man in our own country. We are presently being treated like conquered people because of crude oil,” he stated.

  • Free Dasuki, defreeze Tompolo’s bank accounts, militants tell goverment

    Free Dasuki, defreeze Tompolo’s bank accounts, militants tell goverment

    A group that calls itself the joint revolutionary council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), and claims to be the ‘highest organ’ of “all the freedom fighting body” in the Niger Delta, has declared ceasefire.

    The group, which had earlier threatened to launch six missiles in the region and to also shut the country’s airspace, said it decided to do otherwise after the federal government offered to dialogue.

    However, JNDLF said government would have to comply with its demand if it wants sustained peace in the region.

    Among the group’s demands is the immediate release of Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (NSA), reversal of the order to freeze the bank accounts of Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, establishment of Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, among others.

    The group threatened “to go after” Niger Delta governors, who are its representatives “if they betray the region”.

    “We shall continue to engage in dialogue if our demands are met. Our representatives for the dialogue, especially the governors and others will not betray our demands with the federal government. Any betrayal on their own part shall be viewed as betrayal of the entire region and we shall go after them immediately as they know our mode of operation in which they will not escape from us,” JNDLF said in a statement.

    The group boasted, “There is no gainsaying that we made our earlier promise to launch six missiles simultaneously against some targeted areas. But this was waved aside as a result of appeals made to us through email by the federal government and some international nations to open talks with Buhari.

    “We saw some genuine aspiration on the part of Buhari, who made several contacts to us to see reason with them over the issue of under-development of the region. And since he (Buhari) had set the ball rolling for a clear negotiation with us, there is no problem without solution. We have therefore declared ceasefire in order to negotiate with the government if it is a true reflection of what they have in mind to develop the Niger Delta region.”

    The group said it was more interested in negotiating with the government on the basis of developing the Niger Delta rather than giving out monetary compensation.

    It also demanded the implementation of the report of the 2014 national conference, and the removal of Paul Boroh, coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme.

    “We are not ready to negotiate with the federal government for the sake of monetary benefit to us but how genuinely the government will develop the region is at the centre of our discussion and anything less than that we will continue our struggle without further warning to the federal government,” the statement read.

    “We demand the immediate implementation of the report of the 2014 national conference report, failure of which Nigeria will forcefully break-up. Oil-polluted lands in the Niger Delta must be cleaned up, while compensation should be paid to all oil-producing communities, e.g. Chevron fire outbreak of gas explosion in Koluama, Bayelsa State and Bonga Oil Spill in 2011. We also demand the immediate release of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Nnamdi Kanu.

    “We also want the removal of Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd.) as Amnesty Coordinator. He does not understand the programmes and policies of the Amnesty and does not know us to the grassroots.” Not only that they asked the government to “Hence he should be replaced with Dr. Felix Tuodolo who has been in the struggle of non-violence since 1980 and he was the designer of the amnesty programme.

    “We carried out all these attacks on oil and gas pipelines in the region because of the statement made by President Buhari that he will develop those areas that gave him 95% votes during his presidential election last year. We, the Niger Delta people only gave him 5% hence we vowed that our oil money will not be used for the development of any other region.”

    Despite the declaration of the JNDLF, the Niger Delta Avengers, the group which has led the attacks on oil installations since the resurgence of militancy, blew up pipelines in Bayelsa state on Friday.

  • You must stop attacks now, Tompolo warns Avengers

    You must stop attacks now, Tompolo warns Avengers

    •Claims associates not coordinating group
    •Group appeals to NDA to embrace peace

    Wanted former militant, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) yesterday denied suggestion that his close associates are coordinating the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Tompolo who, for the umpteenth time asked the militants to stop further attacks on oil facilities in his Gbaramatu community in Delta State and other parts of the Niger Delta, said he is sure that President Buhari is sincere about ending the crisis.

    He therefore advised them to embrace dialogue, saying “it is the only pragmatic means in resolving crisis.”

    “I believe fervently that the government is serious and willing to end this reoccurring crisis in the region. Enough is enough,” he said.

    “It is high time you stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. One thing you guys may not be aware of is that you have not only succeeded in militarizing the Niger Delta region now, but also succeeded in giving birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within the government circle, who are very serious rumour peddlers in the country now.”

    This is coming as the South-South Community Association of Nigeria (SOSCAN) has appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to embrace peace.

    According to its National Coordinator, Rev. David Vama Idabor, “We cannot afford to waste innocent lives in the region”  adding, “truly we have lost political power, but we have not lost our place in the Nigeria project.”

    Tompolo lamented that the people of Gbaramatu kingdom have not known peace since the group started the bombing of oil facilities.

    He accused the military and members of the Joint Task Force of carrying out mass murder and destruction of property and invasion of sacred parts of the communities in Gbaramatu.

    He said the people of Gbaramatu “have been harassed, intimidated, violated and invaded on daily basis by the Nigerian Military under the guise of looking for members of your group (Niger Delta Avengers) and my humble self, who they have criminally and wickedly linked to the Niger Delta Avengers.

    “Presently, all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been deserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leave the communities in shambles.

    “Even till now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu Shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion.”

    On the allegation that his men are behind the Avengers, Tompolo said nothing could be farther from the truth.

    The South-South Community Association of Nigeria (SOSCAN)  called on the Niger Deltans to come together to discuss “our future as a nation in the federation beyond politics and oil and gas as our major strength.” It called on the NDA top ceasefire “so that we can negotiate a way forward. The Nigerian nation today needs a focus and any distraction and digression will not do us any good.

    Idabor in the statement called on all Nigerians to see beyond their tribal interests.

     

  • FG serious about ending Niger-Delta crisis- Tompolo

    FG serious about ending Niger-Delta crisis- Tompolo

    Embattled former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has called on the leaders of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to call off the group’s campaign and sign on to federal government’s dialogue option.
    Tompolo, who was recently speculated to have escaped to Libya, in an open letter also expressed the belief that the federal government was serious about ending the oil-rich region’s intermittent armed struggling.
    Tompolo also reiterated his earlier claim of not being involved in the formation or operations of the dreaded militant group, the Avengers, adding that the group’s activities had only given vent to rumour peddling from those intent on implicating and profiteering from the Niger Delta crisis.
    He, however, advised those operating the militant group to call it off, take advantage of government’s call for dialogue as their activities were rubbing off negatively on the Niger Delta region and its peoples.
    “I wish to once again write the members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace the Federal Government dialogue option as a way out of the brewing crisis in the Niger Delta region. As I have said before now, I do not know you and how to reach you except through the mass media, therefore it is high time you stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.
    “One thing you guys may not be aware of is that, you have not only succeeded in militarizing the Niger Delta region now, but also succeeded in given birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within the government circle, who are very serious rumour peddlers in the country now.
    “I wish to reiterate that you guys must stop the bombing and destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region now and embrace the dialogue option from the Federal Government as it is (dialogue) the only pragmatic means in resolving a crisis no matter huge and complicated such crisis is.
    “I believe fervently that the Government is serious and willing to end this re-occurring crisis in the Niger Delta region. Enough is enough”, Tompolo said.
    He expressed displeasure at the manner in which the military personnel who carried out the recent operations in some Gbaramatu communities allegedly violated the communities, especially his Oporoza home community, and dislocated the people’s everyday life.
    “As for the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, they have not known peace since you guys started the bombing of oil facilities as they have been harassed, intimidated, violated and invaded on daily bases by the Nigerian Military under the guise of looking for members of your group (Niger Delta Avengers) and my humble self, who they have criminally and wickedly linked to the Niger Delta Avengers.
    “Presently all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been disserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leave the communities in shambles. Even till now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu Shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion.
    “It is pertinent to state that I have not heard and seen in any part of Nigeria, even the most volatile North Eastern part of Nigeria,where Boko Haram has been killing innocent people, the way and manner the Military desecrated the traditional worship centres in Gbaramatu Kingdom. This is a clear oppression and intimidation of the peace loving people of Gbaramatu Kingdom”, he said.

  • Ex-militants urge Tompolo, Avengers to surrender

    Ex-militants urge Tompolo, Avengers to surrender

    The Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), the defunct militia group led by the late John Togo, has urged the embattled former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), to surrender himself to the Federal Government.

    The group also Urged the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to call off their campaigns and accept dialogue as nobody can successfully fight government.

    In a statement circulated in Warri by the NDLF spokesman, Captain Mark Anthony, yesterday, the group described destruction of oil and gas facilities as criminal, noting that those involved in the current campaign were fighting a selfish course, aimed at protecting a failed business empire.

    The group urged the armed forces to be responsible in their conduct in the ongoing operations in the communities, recalling the level of destruction and killing which followed its campaigns in Ayakoromor in time past.

    “We are appealing to members of the Niger Delta Avengers to surrender and accept the part of dialogue. No group or individual can fight federal Government. We also appeal to Tompolo to surrender himself to the authorities on the part of peace to reign in Gbaramatu communities and parts of Niger Delta.

    “We NDLF have staged FG and untill today, we are still nursing our wounds. We also appeal to FG to employ internationally accepted military practices in Niger Delta. We could recalled during our experience, you guys (soldiers) bombed and burned Ayakoromor and killed several innocent persons.

    “Similar genocide is about to take place now, if caution is thrown into the wind on both parties. We repeat resolve once again, pipeline bombers are criminals, fighting a selfish course over failed business empire with the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We will always support Biuhari’s administration to succeed just as we supported former President Goodluck Jonathan,” the statement said.

     

     

  • Tompolo denies Avengers

    Tompolo denies Avengers

    Ex-militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo),has appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group to halt attacks on oil installations in order to avert disaster in the region.

    He said in a statement: “If truly as you (NDA) claimed that you are fighting for the well-being of the people of the Niger Delta, then you must adhere to this appeal, otherwise, the world will label you as criminals,” he added.

    Tompolo, who is accused of masterminding the attacks in exchange for a soft-landing in his corruption trial by the EFCC, for the umpteenth time, denied the allegation and expressed confidence on the ability of his legal team to argue his case.

    He warned the militants on the consequences of attacks on key oil and gas assets, stressing that the Federal Government was willing to crush any obstacle to unhindered flow of oil in the region.

    The former MEND leader’s warning is the heels of threat by the militant group to carry out an attack that will “shake the whole world.”

    He said, “One thing you (NDA) should know is that government is not interested in its constitutional duty of protection of lives and the welfare of its citizens, rather it is interested in the continues flow of crude oil in the region, therefore it could do anything to make the oil flow, not minding the security and the welfare of the people.

    “Come to think of the consequences of your actions in the region so far, particularly as it affects me and the people of Gbaramatu kingdom. Just yesterday, the Nigerian Army invaded the ancestral headquarters of the kingdom, Oporoza town, under the guise of looking for members of your group, particularly me, who they have wickedly linked to your group, and unleashed mayhem on the innocent people of the community.

    “And this happened in my absence as I am currently out of Gbaramatu kingdom, but what I gathered from some of the victims of the army invasion is unspeakable. Even pots of soup where not spared.

    “The Army has massively looted residents’ homes, desecrated traditional places of worship, committed sacrileges, abominations and what have you. The army has continued to occupy the community till this moment.

    “One other reason you guys must stop this new campaign of destruction is that the contractors in charge of repair works of attacked pipelines are equally culpable in the act of pipeline vandalism as they now sponsor their allays in the communities to continue to destroy pipelines to get more repair works. This is the sorry state we have found ourselves in the Niger Delta.

    “To this end dear Niger Delta Avengers, you must put an end to this economic sabotage and allow the government to look into your demands now. I believe a word is enough for the wise,” he added.

    Speaking on his corruption trial by the EFCC, Tompolo reiterated his pledge not to resort to violence and and bombing of oil pipelines, stressing that his “team of lawyers have already challenged the defective process of legal service on me in the Court of Appeal. I am a man of truth and peace, therefore will not be involved in violent activities.

    “That notwithstanding, for the love of country and out of patriotism, I wish to appeal to you once again to stop the bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, and embrace the path of dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria, as the government is ready to hear you out on whatever issues you wish to discuss with it.”

  • Tompolo versus Emami

    Tompolo versus Emami

    High Chief Government Ekpemupolo must have realised that success brings friends and enemies. In the last few days, Tompolo, as Ekpemupolo is better known, has been having running battle with some people from the Niger Delta, especially multi-millionaire Ayiri Emami.

    Emami’s issue with Tompolo centres around the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). Tompolo says he has nothing to do with the group. Emami says he is lying. The Itsekiri-born politician insists Tompolo is hiding behind the avengers to blow oil facilities.

    The NDA says without some conditions being met by President Muhammadu Buhari, peace will elude the Niger Delta, their home. And, by extension, Nigeria.

    For the president to take them serious, they have carried out some bombings. They bombed the Chevron valve facility in the night of Wednesday last week and the 48-inch trunk line supplying crude oil to Warri refinery. They say they will crumble the economy unless their demands are met.

    One of the demands is the immediate implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference organised in the run-up to the last general elections by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. They say if this is not done, the country will break up.

    Another demand borders on ownership of oil blocks. They say 60 per cent of the oil blocks must be owned by indigenes of oil-producing areas and 40 per cent for others.

    They also have an axe to grind with their fellow Niger Deltan and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who earlier in the life of the Buhari administration faulted the Maritime University started by the Jonathan administration. They say Amaechi, an Ikwerre man from Rivers, must apologise to the Ijaw on whose soil the university is sited for his “careless and reckless statement about the siting of the university”. They say maritime university is located in “the most appropriate and befitting place Okerenkoko” and must start the 2015/2016 academic session immediately.

    They also show some love to the Ogoni people of Rivers. They say their land and all oil-polluted areas in the Niger Delta must be cleaned up and compensation paid to the communities. Their love is not limited to Southsouth alone. They also extend their love to the ‘Biafra’ nation. They say the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, must be released unconditionally.

    They also have issues with the Niger Delta Amnesty programme, which they say must be well funded and allowed to continue to function effectively.

    Another condition is about the anti-corruption campaign. They say it is skewed in favour of his political associates. The militants say that all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are indicted in any corruption-related cases should be made to face trial like members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Those they want apologies from also include Buhari, the Department of State Services and Timipre Sylva. Their offence: They killed former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, “with intimidation and harassment because of his party affiliation”.

    They also have a word for oil multi-nationals and foreign investors if the government dares them. They say the failure of the government to meet their conditions will lead to attacks on their business interests. They say they will soon visit evil on Lagos and Abuja if their conditions are not met.

    Their hide-and-seek tactics have incurred the wrath of the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) led by John Togo, which through their spokesman, Mark Anthony, says: “Those bombing pipelines in Delta State should not behave like cowards if they are truly fighting the interest of Niger Delta.

    “They should be bold enough to come out. When we were bombing, our leader General John Togo did not hide his face. We dealt with the Nigerian army, and we were not hiding.

    “They should not hide their identity. Buhari is not God and they should not be scared of him. JTF should not attack and arrest innocent people in Ijaw communities, they should go for the real saboteurs.”

    The almighty Tompolo’s running battle with Emami is coming when his battle with the law is still on. He has been named in a N34b scam at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). For this, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited him for a chat. He spurned the opportunity. The agency decided to go ahead with his arraignment alongside NIMASA ex-Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi. The court ordered him to appear. He has not. Instead, he issued a statement justifying his refusal to honour EFCC’s invite and failure to keep a date in court. His lawyers are in court trying to shield him.

    His defence sound like these: He is no signatory to any of the accounts of the companies involved in the scam. EFCC’s lawyer Festus Keyamo and Sylva are setting him up.

    Keyamo, he said, was after him because he refused to buy some property he introduced him to in Lagos and Abuja. Sylva, he claimed, was bitter because he refused to support his bid to become the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    His hands, he vowed, were clean and as such Buhari should just get the EFCC to apply the break in his trial for alleged money laundering and corruption.

    A day or so after the court ordered Tompolo to appear before it to defend himself in the case against him, oil pipelines went up in flames in Delta State. Oil giant Chevron was in a deep pit as a result of the attacks. The country’s economy was affected too. Tompolo dissociated himself from the attacks. It would have amounted to a treasonable felony if he had said something else. He would have clearly declared a war against the Federal Government and we all can imagine what the new sheriff in town would have done.

    The ex-militant leader insists “Ayiri Emami and others accusing me of the destruction of oil facilities in part of the Delta are simply looking for relevance, recognition and pipeline surveillance contracts”. He alleged further:   “If anyone doubts what I am saying, such should find out from the GMD and Minister for State for Petroleum, because Ayiri and his likes have been troubling the Minister for pipeline surveillance contracts for some time now.

    “The Minister has even succumbed to the Ayiri Emami gimmick by appointing some of his cronies as special advisers. The funny thing about Ayiri Emami is that he does not even have the capacity and goodwill to protect oil facilities.”

    Emami, in a chat with The Nation, advised Tompolo to stop “hiding under militancy and face his crimes in a competent court of law. I insist that he is the one behind the bombing. If he is not, he should come out and prove his innocence. He denied seeking surveillance contract.

    My final take: The military needs to unmask those behind the avengers’ assault on oil facilities in the Niger Delta. This will also nip in the bud the plot to take the attacks beyond the creeks. It will be foolish to allow the militants pop champagne if they succeed in carrying their evil intention to Lagos and Abuja as they have threatened.

     

  • Tompolo’s suit for June 17

    Tompolo’s suit for June 17

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 17 for hearing in a suit by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    Tompolo, in the suit before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, is praying for an order “nullifying, voiding, striking down and expunging sections 221 and 306 from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to the extent of their inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution.”

    Through his lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, he said the sections were unconstitutional because they prevent a court from entertaining any objection to a criminal charge or an application for stay of proceedings pending appeal.

    But, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the suit is an abuse of court process and should be dismissed.

  • Court to hear Tompolo’s suit June 17

    Court to hear Tompolo’s suit June 17

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 17 for hearing of a suit filed by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    Tompolo, in the suit before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, is praying for an order “nullifying, voiding, striking down and expunging sections 221 and 306 from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to the extent of their inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution.”

    Through his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, he said the sections were unconstitutional because they prevent a court from entertaining any objection to a criminal charge or an application for stay of proceedings pending appeal.

    But, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the suit is an abuse of court process and should be dismissed.

    He said a warrant of arrest was issued for Tompolo’s arrest only when he failed to appear in court to answer criminal charges against him.