Tompolo sues FG over his N45.9billion trial

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Government
Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo who has been
declared wanted by the EFCC over his
involvement in a N45.9 billion scam at the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency NIMASA, has dragged the Federal
government before a Federal High Court in Lagos
asking that the fraud charges leveled against
him be dropped.
In the court paper filed by his counsel, Ebun-Olu
Adegboruwa yesterday April 11th, Tompolo is
seeking for the nullification of sections 221 and
306 Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015
(ACJA), which prevents parties in a criminal trial
from seeking a stay of proceedings.
Section 221 of the ACJA law states that:
“Objections shall not be taken or entertained
during proceedings or trial on the ground of an
imperfect or erroneous charge.” while Section
306 states that “An application for stay of
proceedings in respect of a criminal matter
before a court shall not be entertained.”
Tompolo in the suit argues that he is innocent
and that the sections in the law prevent the
court from exercising its jurisdiction to entertain
any objection to a criminal charge and an
application for a stay of proceedings pending
appeal.
“He is thus asking the court to stop his further
trial until the determination of these issues,” his
counsel said.
The defendants in the suit are the Federal
Government of Nigeria, the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the
Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army
Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of
Air Staff.