A group, the Niger Delta Anti-Corruption Group, has said it is not comfortable with human rights lawyer, Festus Kayemo, being the prosecutor of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the trial of former Niger Delta militant warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
EFCC had on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos filed a 40-count criminal charge of unlawful conversion against Tompolo and a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
In a suit, FHC/L/5539C/15, filed on behalf of the EFCC by Keyamo, the anti-graft agency said Tompolo and Akpobolokemi converted $108.7 million and N2.1 billion, being property of NIMASA, knowing that the said sum were proceeds of stealing.
Charged along with them are three others as well as five limited liability companies.
But reacting on Thursday, NDACG in a statement issued in Akure, Ondo State and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade A. Effiong, and the Director of Publicity, Sylvester Ebiowei, said Keyamo, who once accused Tompolo of threat to his life, was not in a better position to stand as prosecutor for EFCC.
The group said if the anti-graft agency wants to get results from the trial, Keyamo should be replaced with someone more courageous and dependable.
The group said though he is very competent, he may not be able to handle the case effectively and satisfactorily.
According to it, Kayemo has unsettled issues with Tompolo before now.
It contended that though the group holds Kayemo in high esteem, using him to prosecute the case involving Tompolo could jeopardize the matter, alleging that Kayemo was capable of compromising in the case against the wishes of EFCC.
“There have been speculations from the public that Keyamo is likely to be compromised in the trial which may frustrate the determination of the EFCC to make Tompolo face the law for whatever crime he had committed against the government. And we stand by that position. We are not comfortable with Keyamo handling this case,” the group said.
It demanded that EFCC should get a prosecutor that can never compromise the trial of Tompolo for any inducement from any quarters.
Besides, the group urged EFCC to thoroughly investigate the N13 billion allegedly paid to Tompolo for the acquisition of the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Delta State.
It commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption, urging Nigerians to cooperate and support him.
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