The Court of Appeal in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed the appeal brought by Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the bench warrant issued against him by Justice Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Court with the commission that Tompolo had been properly served with the summons and saw no reason to set aside the Bench Warrant still subsisting against him.
The court unanimously held that Tompolo’s appeal is devoid of any merit and thereby dismissed it. The court upheld the decision of Justice Buba to issue a Bench Warrant against Tompolo.
Recall that on December 15,2015 the EFCC instituted a Criminal Charge against Tompolo and nine others but failed to appear before the court to face trial over alleged criminal charges.
Consequently, on January 14, 2016 Justice Buba issued a warrant for the arrest of Tompolo pursuant to Section 131 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Tompolo thereafter filed a Motion on Notice dated the January 27, 2016 seeking the following reliefs: an order of court setting aside its order of January 12, 2016 for issuance of Summons to compel the appearance of the defendant; an order setting aside Charge No: FHC/L/553C/15 and service of summons to compel the appearance of the defendant and, an order setting aside the Warrant for the arrest of the defendant issued on January 14, 2016.
