EFCC Seeks Court Order to Seize Tompolo’s Assets…
Ijaw group warns against plot to kill ex-militant
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to grant an order allowing it to seize all properties belonging to an ex-Niger Delta militant, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, pending his arrest or appearance before the court for arraignment over an alleged N12 billion fraud charge preferred against him by the commission.
The EFCC had filed a 40-count charge on January 11 against Tompolo and nine others on alleged conversion and theft of over N12 billion.
Those charged alongside Tompolo were a former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Authority (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Ltd., Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Mr. Kime Engozu, Boloboere Ltd., Rex Elem, Destre Ltd., Mr. Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warrendi Enisuoh.
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court had summoned Tomopolo, who is the first accused in the charge, to appear before the court as prayed by the EFCC.
But the ex-militant disobeyed the court order by refusing to appear to face the charges against him.
Frustrated, the court has since issued two orders for his arrest and ordered the police to find and bring him before the court.
Following Tompolo’s disobedience of the court’s order, EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, yesterday filed a motion asking the court to grant the commission permission to seize all the properties belonging to the ex-militant.
In the motion ex parte brought under Section 80 and 81 of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Act and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the EFCC is asking the court to grant an order to seize the property at No. 1 Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State; all properties of Mieka Dive Ltd and Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd situated at No. 77, Lioth Street, ODPA Ugborikoko, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State; and all properties of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd.
Other assets belonging to Tompolo which the EFCC is seeking to seize include all properties of Muhaabix Global Services Ltd.; a river crew change boat named MUHA – 15; the property known as “Tompolo Dockyard” by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri; the property known as “Tompolo Yard” at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri; the diving school at Kurutie at Escravos River; the property known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the palace; and any other property discovered by the anti-graft commission, moveable and immoveable belonging to him.
In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by one Adah John Adah, a litigation officer in Festus Keyamo’s chambers, the prosecution averred that “on the 14th day of January, 2016 this Honourable Court issued a warrant of arrest for the 1st accused person.
“That since the issuance of the warrant of arrest, the 1st accused person has absconded and concealed himself from all security forces in the country to frustrate the execution of the warrant of arrest.
“That rather than present himself to the court, the 1st accused person engaged the services of Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) who filed a motion dated 27th day of January, 2016 to set aside the warrant of arrest. The said motion was dismissed on the 8th day of February, 2016.
“That since the order for the arrest of the 1st accused person, the combined team of the police and the military have been combing the creeks and the entire nation for the arrest of the 1st accused person, but he continues to abscond and conceal himself.
“That operatives of the complainant have carried out investigation and received intelligence report to the effect that the following properties belong to the 1st accused person.
“That it is in the interest of justice to grant this application”.
But as the EFCC awaits the court’s order on the ex parte motion it filed for the seizure of Tompolo’s assets, a sociocultural group made up of Ijaw professionals and youths in the Niger Delta under the umbrella of Iwere Peace Movement, yesterday warned against a purported plan by the federal government to kill the former militant if he is arrested and detained.
They warned that the continued militarisation of the Niger Delta in the name of searching for Tompolo would plunge the region into another bloody war and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sustain the prevailing peace in the region by calling the EFCC and the military to order.
The group, in a statement in Benin City yesterday and signed by Mr. Marie Oritsejolomi and Johnbull Deghele Omadeli, said it deemed the EFCC charges against Tompolo as a ploy to arrest and keep him in detention like the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and murder him in detention.
“The Buhari government is shadow chasing, as it sees anyone that stands by the truth as an enemy of the government. This action will not take this country to anywhere other than destruction.”