For the second time, a Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a warrant for the arrest of Government Ekpemupolo, the ex – Niger Delta militant popularly known as Tompolo.

The latest arrest warrant was issued on Monday by Justice Ibrahim Buba at the resumed hearing of the case against Tompolo and nine others, including the former director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick  Akpobolokemi, who are billed for arraignment for alleged conspiracy and diversion of over N34 billion.

The judge issued the first warrant for Tompolo’s arrest on 14 January.

Tompolo’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, had brought an application before the court praying it to set aside the earlier arrest order on the accused person.

The lawyer in the application argued that the address on which the substituted service was pasted does not belong to Tompolo and that by the error, the prosecution violated the order of the court.

Prosecuting counsel, Festus Keyamo, however, objected to the application orally, arguing that by Section 221 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Oyetibo’s application should not be heard since the plea of the accused person had not been taken.

Justice Buba, however, allowed the defence counsel to move his application but thereafter dismissed the counsel’s pleas and prayers.

The judge ordered all the security agencies in the country to ensure that Tompolo is arrested and brought before the court to answer the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

He also ruled that EFCC can arrest make arrests in connection with a crime without obtaining a court order.

At Monday’s sitting, the prosecuting counsel also informed the court that the EFCC had filed a fresh 21 – count charge against Tompolo and Akpobolokemi for conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N35billion.

Justice Buba has fixed 25 February, 2016 for the appearance of Tompolo in court and the fresh arraignment.