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Tag: Tompolo

  • EFCC seeks court’s order to seize Tompolo’s assets

    EFCC seeks court’s order to seize Tompolo’s assets

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to make an order empowering it to seize assets of an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    It sought an order authorising it to attach the property belonging to Tompolo by seizure pending his arrest or appearance in court.

    The commission said since the court ordered Tompolo’s arrest, a police and military team had been combing the creeks in search of him.

    The property, as listed by EFCC, include 1, Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State; property of Mieka Dive Ltd and Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd at  77, Lioth Street, ODPA Ugborikoko, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, and property of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd.

    Others are property of Muhaabix Global Services Ltd, a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15, property known as “Tompolo Dockyard” by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri, and property, known as “Tompolo Yard”, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri.

    The rest are the Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River, property, known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the palace, as well as any other property discovered by EFCC, movable and immovable, belonging to Tompolo.

    The application, filed by EFCC lawyer Festus Keyamo, is dated February 18.

    EFCC said rather than come to the court, Tompolo engaged Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who sought to quash the arrest order.

    “Since the order for the arrest of the first accused (Tompolo), the combined team of the police and the military has been combing the creeks and the nation for his arrest, but he continues to abscond and conceal himself,” EFCC said.

    The commission said its operatives carried out investigation and received intelligence report that the property for which it required court’s order belong to Tompolo.

    The case comes up today.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, on January 14, ordered Tompolo’s arrest. He renewed the order on February 8.

    He dismissed Tompolo’s application seeking to quash the warrant of arrest.

    EFCC, in the 40-count, said the 47-year-old ex-militant is wanted for conspiracy, illegal diversion of N34 billion and N11.9 billion belonging to the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The money, the prosecution said, accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    EFCC said since the warrant of arrest, Tompolo “has absconded and concealed himself from security forces to frustrate the execution of the warrant of arrest.”

  • EFCC seeks court’s order to seize Tompolo’s assets

    EFCC seeks court’s order to seize Tompolo’s assets

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to make an order empowering it to seize all assets belonging to a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    It sought an order authorising it to attach the properties belonging to Tompolo by seizure pending his arrest or appearance in court for arraignment.

    The commission said since the court ordered Tompolo’s arrest, the combined team of the police and the military have been combing the creeks in search of him to no avail.

    The property, as listed by EFCC, include 1, Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State; properties of Mieka Dive Ltd and Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd at No. 77, Lioth Street, ODPA Ugborikoko, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, and all properties of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd.

    Others are all properties of Muhaabix Global Services Ltd, a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15, property known as “Tompolo Dockyard” by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri, and property known as “Tompolo Yard”, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri.

    The rest are the Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River, property known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the Palace, as well as any other property discovered by EFCC, moveable and immoveable, belonging to Tompolo.

    The application, filed by EFCC lawyer Festus Keyamo, is dated February 18.

    EFCC said rather than present himself to the court,  Tompolo engaged the services of Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who sought to quash the order of arrest.

    “Since the order for the arrest of the first accused person (Tompolo), the combined team of the Nigerian police and the military has been combing the creeks and the entire nation for the arrest of the 1st accused person, but he continues to abscond and conceal himself,” EFCC said.

    The commission said its operatives carried out investigation and received intelligence report that the properties belong to Tompolo.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba had on January 14 ordered Tompolo’s arrest. He renewed the order on February 8.

    He later dismissed Tompolo’s application seeking to quash the warrant of arrest.

    EFCC, in the 40-count, said 47-year-old Tompolo is wanted in a case of conspiracy, illegal diversion of N34 billion and N11.9 billion belonging to the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The money, the prosecution said, accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    EFCC said since the issuance of the warrant of arrest, Tompolo “has absconded and concealed himself from all security forces in the country to frustrate the execution of the warrant of arrest.”

    The case comes up Friday.

  • IG issues order for Tompolo’s arrest 

    IG issues order for Tompolo’s arrest 

    •Security beefed up in Benue over Mark’s alarm

    Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase said yesterday that his men have the order to arrest ex-Niger Delta militant Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a court issued the warrant for his arrest.

    Tomopolo was declared wanted by the EFCC in connection with a N45.9b fraud in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The IGP also said he had directed Benue State Commissioner of Police to increase security in the state following the alarm raised by former Senate President David Mark.

    The IGP spoke in Abuja during a session with journalists.

    Arase said:  “We are still looking for Tompolo. The commissioners of police in Delta, Rivers and all those areas have been given the warrant for the arrest so that they could carry out the arrest.

    “The EFCC has declared him wanted and you know the court has issued a warrant of arrest. So, it is the duty of the EFCC to publish him as a wanted person and it is our duty to ensure the arrest.

    On David Mark’s allegation that his life is under threat,  Arase said: “I read it in the newspapers but I have not seen the petition but I have asked the Commissioner of Police to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order as the election comes up on Saturday.”

    The IG also said the Police have incurred over N800million as judgment debt.

    He said: “As at the last count, we had a total of about N800million or close to N1billion in garnishee.

    “We are trying to appeal against some of these judgments. We are also raising the argument that before you make the garnishee to be absolute, you must get the Attorney-General of the Federation’s fiat.

    On the proposed recruitment of 10,000 men as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the IG said: “We want the recruitment to be state based because we want to encourage community partnership. If we want to encourage community partnership for instance, somebody from Kano who understands the language and culture, as a Constable, he will be able to serve better and gather information in that area after training instead of talking somebody from Lagos who does not understand the culture to go and dump him in Kano and then take a young boy who has not passed through Kaduna before to be dumped in the Southeast.”

  • Tompolo set to appeal arrest order as lawyer demands case records

    Tompolo set to appeal arrest order as lawyer demands case records

    A FORMER Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), is set to appeal the order for his arrest by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos, it was learnt yesterday.

    The judge, on February 8, directed security agencies to arrest Tompolo, and held that the warrant of arrest for his arrest still subsists.

    Yesterday, a lawyer in Tompolo’s legal team, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, urged Justice Buba to intervene to enable Tomopolo have a copy of the ruling.

    Tompolo’s lead counsel Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) argued an application on behalf of the ex-militant leader to set aside the warrant of arrest.

    But the judge delivered a bench ruling, dismissing the application. He re-issued a fresh warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.

    Adegboruwa said they applied for a certified true copy of the ruling, to study it and advise Tompolo on possible chances of an appeal.

    “But the lawyers met a brickwall in court, without any success in obtaining the ruling,” he told reporters.

    According to him, by law, Tompolo has 14 days to appeal the ruling, which elapses on February 22.

    The case was adjourned till Friday.

    “It would seem the court is giving preferential treatment to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the case. For example, on January 12, 2016, the EFCC filed an application for substituted service on Tomopolo.

    “The judge heard the application the same day and granted it. The order was enrolled almost immediately and the case was heard on January 14, 2016. A bench warrant was issued against Tompolo, all in less than seven days,” Adegboruwa said.

    Yesterday, the lawyer expressed his frustration, saying it was necessary for the judge to intervene because of the limited time Tompolo had to exercise his right of appeal.

    Justice Buba reminded Adegboruwa that the ruling was only delivered on February 8 and that he had a backlog of judgments and ruling to deliver.

    The judge said the ruling was being typed and would soon be ready, adding that he would prefer that administrative matters be dealt with in chambers and not in court, not to interrupt proceedings.

    The judge asked Adegboruwa to wait to collect the ruling, to which Adegboruwa expressed his gratitude.

    The lawyer said he had an urgent situation at hand that necessitated the move he had taken.

    Justice Buba had dismissed Tompolo’s application seeking to quash the warrant of arrest.

    He first issued a bench warrant for Tompolo’s arrest on January 14.

    EFCC, in the 40-count, said 47-year-old Tompolo is wanted in a case of conspiracy, illegal diversion of N34 billion and N11.9 billion belonging to the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The money, the prosecution said, accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

  • Police on trail of Tompolo – Arase

    Police on trail of Tompolo – Arase

    The Inspector –General of Police, Solomon Arase, on Friday said his men are on the trail of ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    “We are looking for Tompolo and my men are on his trail. We will arrest him anywhere we see him,” Arase told reporters in Ado Ekiti.

    Tompolo was slammed with a 40-count charge bordering on money laundering and fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The ex-militant chief has refused to heed EFCC’s summons for interrogation.

    He also failed to appear before the court prompting the warrant of arrest.

    He has since been declared wanted by the EFCC.

     

  • Again, court orders security agencies to arrest Tompolo

    Again, court orders security agencies to arrest Tompolo

    Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday directed security agencies to arrest a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    He held that the warrant of arrest issued for Tompolo’s arrest still subsists.

    The judge said “all authorities” are under obligation to ensure Tompolo is arrested and produced in court to face trial.

    Justice Buba dismissed Tompolo’s application seeking to quash the warrant of arrest issued to compel his appearance.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba on January 14 issued the warrant after Tompolo failed to report in court to face criminal charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge had earlier issued summons on Tompolo, documents which EFCC lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said were duly affixed on a conspicuous part of Tompolo’s home at 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State, as ordered by the court.

    But Tompolo claimed that the EFCC did not follow due process of law in applying for an order of substituted service of the criminal charge against him.

    He claimed the documents were sent to a wrong address.

     

  • Tompolo urges court to quash arrest warrant

    A former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to quash the warrant of arrest issued to compel his appearance in court.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba on January 14 issued the warrant after Tompolo failed to report in court to face criminal charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge had earlier issued summons on Tompolo, documents which EFCC lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said were duly affixed on a conspicuous part of Tompolo’s home at 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State, as ordered by the court.

    But Tompolo is claiming that the EFCC did not follow due process in applying for an order of substituted service of the criminal charge against him, adding that the documents were sent to a wrong address.

    Besides, he said no service of charge was effected as directed by the court before the EFCC applied for a warrant of arrest against him.

    Tompolo, through his lawyers, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and others, said he was yet to be served with the criminal charge or any warrant of arrest.

    The application is on notice to the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and the Navy.

    Tompolo, in a motion on notice brought pursuant to Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 130 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is praying for an order setting aside the January 12 order for the issuance of summons to compel his appearance, and for substituted service of the processes in the proceedings.

    He also sought an order setting aside the “purported” service of the summons to compel his appearance and the charge.

     

  • Tompolo’s impudence

    SIR: The hallmark and purpose of the law is to ensure sanity and decorum in a given society. Plato says, “Mankind must either give themselves a law and regulate their lives by it or live better than the wildest of the wild beasts.” This implies that, the existence of the law ensures peaceful co-existence, harmony and justice. And before justice could be enthroned in a given society, government, institutions and individuals alike must be seen to be equal before the law and succumb to the vagaries or dictates of it.

    Consequent upon his vehement refusal to appear before the Federal High Court, Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba on charges bothering on alleged N34 billion fraud, a warrant of arrest has been issued on Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo). By this order, Tompolo is to be compelled to appear before the court willy-nilly.

    We must all ensue that the sanctity of the courts is respected and upheld at all times. The impudence of Tompolo is unheard of and must be dealt with accordingly. As a citizen, he is duty bound by law to obey court orders, pronouncements and summons. The law on the other hand should equally protect him against any form of molestation or infringement on his fundamental human rights either by individuals or the state. His right to institute any case or to pursue an existing one against EFCC on the same matter relating to the summons or the case in contention is not enough ground for him to shun or rather dare the court when an injunction or pronouncement was not made.  It is not in the interest of the nation for him to shy away from the course of law and justice.

    When a mother goat eats the grass, the kids keenly look at its mouth is a popular saying among the Igbos. Another one goes on to say that when the elderly gets involved in covetousness; the crime is bound to continue even among the young. Instances abound where government and its security agencies especially the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have treated the law, court orders and pronouncements with utter disdain. The apparent non-compliance of government with the bails granted Nnamdi Kanu and Sambo Dasuki are celebrated cases of government deliberate interference with and defiance of the law.

    Should one not say that Tompolo is the kid goat keenly watching the government which is the mother goat as it ruminates and mangles the grass of adjudication?

    With President Buhari, the appointed time to interrogate the stewardship of our past and present leaders is right here with us. The apparent lack of the will power by those in positions of authority to check the sources of ostentatious living of our leaders was the bane of our nation. Therefore, the ongoing arrest and prosecution of some political big wigs in the country on account of fraudulent diversion of our national resources to themselves and cronies is a welcome development. Every well-meaning Nigerian should ensure it succeeds. Those who the court genuinely finds guilty of robbing us all of our common patrimony should be made to face the consequences of their actions. However, this assignment must be carried out with utmost diligence and sincerity. It should not be seen as a selective political vendetta to punish some supposed “thieves” or potential political enemies. The current media sensationalisation of the prosecution of the suspects is already negatively telling on effort of government and should not be allowed to interfere with the role of the court.

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze,

    sunnyeze02@yahoo.com

  • Tompolo: I’ll go to court at appropriate time

    Tompolo: I’ll go to court at appropriate time

    Former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), has expressed readiness to appear in court to answer corruption charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    But the embattled former creek war lord said he “will appear in court at the appropriate time”.

    A statement yesterday by his media aide, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, said Tompolo’s legal team was making necessary arrangement for him to appear in court.

    The statement denied his involvement in the January 15 bombing of oil facilities in Warri, Delta State.

    It also denied reports credited to his erstwhile colleague and comrade-in-arms, Mr Africanus Ukpasia, that Tompolo was amassing arms to go to war with the Federal Government.

    The statement said Tompolo remained bounded by the terms of his 2009 amnesty deal with the government.

    Ukpasia, who has fallen out of favour with the former MEND leader, accused Tompolo of masterminding the destruction of gas and crude oil pipelines in Warri.

    But Bebenimibo’s statement said: “Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has consistently maintained that he has no hand in the recent bombing of oil pipelines in the creeks of Delta State.

    “Let it be known to Nigerians and the rest of the world that Tompolo will never wage a war against the Federal Government; he swore in 2009, when he accepted the Presidential Amnesty declared by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, to embrace peace.

    “He has kept faith with Nigeria. He has promised to work with the present administration unconditionally, and he stands by that declaration.

    “He was seriously troubled by the recent pipeline bombing because he has provided security for these pipelines, even when the government refused to pay him. So, he could not have been the one to damage the same pipelines.”

    On the allegation that Tompolo was acquiring speedboats for war, the statement said: “It is the biggest lie of the year, as the military is also aware of the boats and pick-up vans he purchased in 2011 for the surveillance of oil facilities. He was working hand-in-hand with the military then.

    “Tompolo is a man of peace and he is poised for the development of the coastal Niger Delta region. He prays that this matter be amicably resolved so that everyone will know that he always puts his people above his person gains.”

  • I will not wage war against FG – Tompolo 

    I will not wage war against FG – Tompolo 

    * Says he’ll appear in court when he’s ready

    Under fire former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), seems to have backtracked in his face-off with the law, as he has now indicated his preparedness to appear before the court to answer to multibillion naira corruption fraud accusation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said “I will appear in court at the appropriate time.”

    Tompolo, in a statement early Thursday morning, disclosed that his legal team is finalising moves towards his day in court.
    A statement by Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo’s media aide, denied his involvement in the January 15 bombing of oil facilities in Warri.

    He also denied reports credited to his erstwhile colleague and comrade in arms, Mr Africanus Ukpasia that he (Tompolo) is amassing tools to go to war with the Federal Government, stressing that he remained bounded by the terms of his 2009 amnesty deal.

    Ukpasia, who has since fallen out with the former MEND leader, also alleged that Tompolo masterminded the wanton destruction of gas and crude pipelines in Warri area of Delta state.

    Bebenimibo, however, maintained: “Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has consistently maintained that he has no hand in the recent bombing of oil pipelines in the creeks of Delta State.

    “Let it be known to Nigerians and the entire World that, Tompolo will never wage a war against the Federal Government, as he has sworn in 2009 when he accepted the Presidential amnesty declared by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    “He has kept faith with Nigeria. He has promised to work with the present administration unconditionally, and he stands by that declaration.

    “He was seriously troubled by the recent pipeline bombing incident, because he has provided security for these pipelines even when the government refused to pay him. And so, he could not have been the one to damage same pipelines.”

    Speaking on allegation that he is acquiring speed boats for war, he said “it is the biggest lie of the year, as the military is also aware of the boats and pick-up vans he purchased in 2011 for the surveillance of oil facilities as he was working hand in hand with the military then.

    “Tompolo is a man of peace and he is poised for the development of the coastal Niger Delta region. He prays that this matter be amicably resolved so that everyone will know that he always put his people above his person gains.”

    He recalled that before the bombing incident, he alerted the public that some aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Bayelsa and Delta States want to destroy National assets, especially oil pipelines in the Delta Niger as a result of the outcome of the 2015 governorship election of Bayelsa State, where the APC lost the election.

    He said the masterminds who carried out the acts are the ones pointing accusing fingers at him to further worsen his case with the APC-led Federal Government.

    “And true to his fears, these set of APC chieftains that joined the party immediately after the presidential election of 2015, were the first people to accuse him of bombing the pipelines to divert public attention.

    “These new APC members who the former chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described as parasites, also threatened to cause problem in the Niger Delta region if the pipeline surveillance contract in Delta State already awarded to Messers Ocean Marine Solution is not re-awarded to them.

    “This is a clear testimony of their involvement in the bombing of the pipelines. Since then, we all have seen their role in misleading the military and the general public.

    “Now, it could be recalled that this same Africanus Ukparasia threatened Tompolo not to show interest in the elections, as he was a strong supporter of the APC candidate. He killed and maimed fellow Ijaw people because of a governorship election, and now he is the one accusing Tompolo of bombing pipelines.”