The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger Delta militant

  • EFCC to court: Tompolo is a fugitive in law

    EFCC to court: Tompolo is a fugitive in law

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a rights enforcement suit filed against it and others by a wanted former Niger Delta militant, Chief Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo.

    Tompolo, who was declared wanted last February 12, is praying the court to protect him from prosecution for an alleged N45.9 billion fraud.

    He sued the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the EFCC, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, said Tompolo “is a fugitive in law”, and so, should not be allowed to seek redress in court until he submits himself for trial.

    He argued that given the materials placed before the court, it was clear that Tompolo was in contempt of the order of Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had earlier compelled his attendance in court to answer to charges preferred against him.

    Oyedepo described the application as an abuse of court process, since it was trite that a party who is in contempt of court cannot seek redress.

    He urged the court to throw out the application for lacking in merit.

    Oyedepo argued that in his originating processes, the applicant had in contradiction of his claims, annexed a copy of his notice of appeal which he signed personally.

    He argued that if Tompolo was ignorant of the charge, he would not have hired a lawyer to file an appeal.

    Oyedepo said the charge against the applicant bordered on fraud, in which billions of naira were lost by the Federal government.

    He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application and award “heavy” cost against the applicant for abusing the court’s process.

    Tompolo’s lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, argued that in criminal law, service of a charge was personal and cannot be presumed, adding that there is no evidence before the court showing that the charge was served on the applicant.

    Adegboruwa said his client could not be cited for contempt, adding that since the beginning of the proceedings, the applicant could not be said to have breached any court’s order.

    He argued that it is a constitutional right of the applicant to apply to court to enforce his right, adding that it cannot be waived.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun fixed June 19 for judgment.

     

     

  • Tompolo: Associates seek to quash N47.6b fraud charge

    Tompolo: Associates seek to quash N47.6b fraud charge

    • Keyamo’s absence stalls trial as workers protest
    Some associates of wanted Niger Delta militant, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), have asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to quash a N47.8billion fraud charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    Tompolo and others were arraigned in absentia on April 18 on 22 counts of conspiracy, stealing, advance fee fraud and money laundering.
    He was charged along with a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA’s) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, who pleaded not guilty.
    Others are Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa, Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Limited, Wabod Global Resources Ltd, Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.
    Also named in the charge are Akpobolokemi’s four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – said to be at large. They were said to have aided the suspects commit the fraud.
    The trial was stalled due to the absence of prosecution counsel Mr Festus Keyamo, who wrote to inform the court that a principal prosecution witness would not be available.
    One of the defence counsel, Mr. Oyesoji Oyeleke (SAN), said he filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the charge.
    He argued that since the prosecution failed to depose to an affidavit stating that it had concluded its investigation, the court should strike out the charge.
    Another defence counsel, Mr. Sylvester Ekweme, representing one of Akpobolokemi’s brothers, Clement, said his client had been in detention since April, adding that his bail application was still pending.
    EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to defraud the Federal Government of the sum between December 2, 2014 and last April 10.
    The EFCC claimed that the accused persons of “falsely pretending to the Federal Government that a parcel of land and its appurtenances situated at Mieka Dive Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State had been acquired by NIMASA for the temporary campus of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.”
    The alleged offence violates Section 1 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related Offences Act, 2006 and were liable to punishment under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
    The defendants were also accused of swindling the Federal Government to the tune of N11.940billion, by presenting a forged Certificate of Customary Right of Occupancy of Bendel State of Nigeria dated May 6, 2014 to NIMASA on the false claim that the forged document was genuine and issued by Warri South-West Local Council, Delta State.
    Some staff members of Global West Vessel Specialist Limited stormed the court yesterday to protest the alleged non-payment of their salaries for 15 months.
    The company was charged along with Tompolo, Akpobolokemi and others in a separate case.
    EFCC, in the 40-count charge before also before Justice Ibrahim Buba, said the suspects allegedly diverted N34 billion for personal use.
    It alleged the money accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist, said to be owned by Tompolo.
    The workers said due to the freezing of the company’s accounts, their salaries had not been paid for the past 15 months.
    They bore placards, which read: “Global West is not owned by Tompolo”, “We are suffering, some of our colleagues have died in the process”, “Global West Vessel Specialist Limited workers need our 15 months salaries” and “Mr President save our soul; we are in support of your government, we are not militants”.
    One of the workers, Roland Omobude, said: “If the company has a case, are we, the workers, to suffer for this case? Can’t they identify the people that are involved in this case and pick them up? Let them pay us our salary. Some of our colleagues have died. About four or five people have died in the process. We are about 350 workers; we are in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Bayelsa.
     “They said the EFCC has frozen the accounts of Global West and since they’ve frozen the account since last year when this new Buhari regime came, nothing has been done. And without them defreezing this account nothing can be done. We are begging the Federal Government, we are begging everybody in this country to come to our aid; we are suffering.”
    Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the first case till November 10 for hearing of pending applications. He fixed trial for December 13 and 14.
  • Edo 2016: PDP has no plans to recruit militants

    Edo 2016: PDP has no plans to recruit militants

    The Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign organization Thursday condemned the remarks credited to Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that the PDP has made arrangements with militants from neighboring states with the aim of disrupting the September elections in the state.

    The chairman of the Media Committee Of the organization Mr Chris Nehikhare in a statement said it is case of the pot calling the kettle black because it is the APC and the Governor Adams Oshiomhole that are spoiling for Violence!

    He said, “We have announced and drawn the attention of the security services to his many infractions and in his characteristic manner to divert attention from himself, the accused turns around to become the accuser”.

    It will be recalled that the Governor on Wednesday called on the Police to checkmate plans by some opposition politicians to import thugs into the state from neighbouring states with a view to causing mayhem during the election in the state.

    He was speaking during a visit to him by the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, Mr. Adeyinka Kolawole Sodipo, to his office in Benin City.

    According to Nehikhare, “It is on record that renowned Niger Delta Militant Ayirimi Emami who is alleged to be helping Oshiomhole recruit ex-militants to perpetuate violence at the forthcoming Guber election was seen today campaigning with the Governor of the outgoing Party in Benin City”.

    He added that, “Ayiri as he’s popularly called has been given N240million by Adams Oshiomhole for the dirty job. He is said to have already received the First instalment a few months back when Adams Oshiomhole in company of Philip Shuaibu took Ayiri to pin-point hot locations of the PDP stronghold where violence will be required on the Election Day”.

    “Ayiri was taken yesterday to Egor LGA which is a sure LGA for the PDP and he’s to be taken to the Hometown of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and other locations today”.

    He said while the PDP and the Ize-Iyamu campaign organization sees  the governor’s position as laughable, “we wish to point out that this is indeed the sign that the APC with the comrade governor in the lead has stepped up their propaganda machinery to the level of misleading the security agencies.”

    He then called on the police and other relevant security agencies to be proactive in arresting any security breach that may lead to the disruption of elections in all parts of the state.

  • EFCC invites Tompolo over NIMASA university land scam

    EFCC invites Tompolo over NIMASA university land scam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday invited former Niger Delta warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) over N13bn Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) university land scam.

    ….Details later