A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, and counsel to the former Niger Delta Militant, Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has attributed his recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to his condemnation of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government, and his decision last week, to sue the Nigerian government on behalf of former president Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola, who had been in EFCC detention since March. A statement issued by his law firm, on Wednesday, denied claims by the EFCC that Mr. Adegboruwa was involved in a N61 million fraud. He was arrested on Monday for purportedly receiving money under false pretence, and was accused of conspiring with others to lease a property situated at House 105 NICON Town Estate, Lekki Lagos, to one Shelf Drilling Nigeria Limited at the sum of N61, 631,944.65; despite being aware that the property was under interim forfeiture by a Lagos State High Court. In his defense, Mr. Adegboruwa said he was hired by one Mrs. Sylvia Udeagbala in 2013 to represent her husband in a criminal matter. The EFCC had arraigned Mr. Udeagbala, a businessman, before a Lagos High Court in August, 2012, for allegedly defrauding Mr. Okafor of N106 million. “In our first appearance in court, it transpired that the complainant in the case, Chief Leonard Okafor and the Defendant, Mr. Jonathan Udeagbala, were from the same town, It was thus decided to settle the case amicably out of court, and the court and the prosecutor were so informed. Upon the intervention of our law firm, several peace meetings were held with the complainant in the case, Chief Okafor, and it was agreed that Mr. Udeagbala’s house in Nicon Town should be sold or leased to offset the money outstanding in favour of Chief Okafor. Mrs. Udeagbala then secured a tenant, Shelf Drilling Co Ltd, for a five year long lease of about Eleven Million Naira per annum.” Speaking further, Adegboruwa, reiterated that all parties agreed to share the proceeds of the lease as follows: Mr. Okafor – N35million; Mr. Udeagbala – N12million; renovation of the house by the contractor chosen by the tenant – N8million; fee paid to the agent – N2.5million; legal fee – N2.5million. Stating that he has documentary evidence to show as proof of collection. “When EFCC got to know that the said property had been let out to Shelf Drilling for five years at the rate of N10million per annum, they told Shelf Drilling that the earlier money paid had been forfeited. EFCC then asked Shelf Drilling to pay N12million per annum. A sum of N24million has so far been collected by EFCC. In fact, we are informed that as at 10th May, 2016, EFCC served the tenant another invoice for rent for 2016”. He said part of the terms of settlement was that Mr. Okafor would withdraw his petition to the EFCC, “which the latter did through a letter of withdrawal written by his lawyers, Atuegwu Egwuatu & Associates, dated 19th August, 2013, and which was received by the EFCC on 17th September, 2013. Consequent upon the withdrawal, the criminal charge was dismissed by the High Court on 17th December, 2015, in a well considered ruling delivered by Hon. Justice D.O. Oluwayemi and the EFCC is aware of this. At all material times, our law firm was not aware of any interim order of attachment obtained by the EFCC on the property. With the ruling of Hon. Justice D.O. Oluwayemi which has dismissed the main criminal charge, there can be no subsisting order of attachment as something cannot be placed on nothing and be expected to stand.” He however alleged that he has been receiving unofficial complaints from the EFCC over his opposition to Buhari’s government, including a threat to reopen Mr. Udeagbala’s case, disclosing that the threats became more upon his brief in the case of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and especially Mr. Azibaola Robert, cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The statement asserted that Mr. Adegboruwa did not collect money for any property but acted as a mediator for settlement, upon the lawful instructions of his client.
