Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the arrest of former Niger Delta militant leader Mr Government Ekpemupolo,for failing to again to appear before the court to face theft and money laundering charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Ibrahim Buba said Ekpemupolo had “refused to honour an invitation for investigation. “
“A new order for his arrest is hereby given,” he added.
Tompolo, a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is one of the 10 defendants, including a former head of Nigeria’s maritime security agency, named on a 40-count indictment brought by the EFCC.
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Tompolo is facing 14 counts of theft and money laundering between 2012 and last year totalling over $175 million.
Recalled that Justice Buba had ordered Ekpemupolo’s arrest on January 14, 2016 but the defendant’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, claimed in court today February 8, 2016 that he had not been properly served with the summons.
The defendant’s lawyer was however overruled and ordered to produce his client in court on February 19.2016.
