Lawyers to ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Mr Tayo Otetibo, SAN and Ebun-Olu Adegborowa, have dismissed media reports casting aspersions on their persons, while going ahead to deal on a matter that is pending in court.
It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had filed a charge against Tompolo before a Federal High Court, Lagos. Meanwhile, following an application by EFCC, the court issued a bench warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.
Otetibo and Adegborowa, in reacting to the report, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the newspaper did not hide its knowledge of the fact that Tompolo had appealed the order of the Federal High Court for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him. If the newspaper believes in the supremacy of the rule of law, it ought to have respected the time tested rule that once a matter is pending before a court of law, all persons are enjoined to refrain from making comments that could prejudice the subject matter of the suit.
“So, in essence, the publication shows disrespect to the court by embarking on the needless exercise of sitting in judgment over the case. Quite apart from this preliminary issue, the publication raised some fundamental issues which, with respect to them, were borne out of ignorance of matters of law and procedure.”
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