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Tag: Tompolo

  • N34b fraud: EFCC to arraign Tompolo in absentia

    Despite being in hiding, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) on Wednesday said it will on Thursday arraign Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) and nine others before a Federal High Court, Lagos on a 40-count charge of alleged money laundering , conspiracy, stealing and diversion of funds.

    The commission also said it has secured order to serve trial summons on Tompolo through substituted means.

    Those to be arraigned with Tompolo are former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi,  Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

    Others are – Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (Tompolo’s company), Odimiri Electricals Limited, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited and Destre Consult Limited.

    A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “The suspects allegedly diverted the sum of N34 billion which accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel   Specialist Limited for personal use.”

     

  • Court summons Tompolo over criminal charges

    Court summons Tompolo over criminal charges

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered Chief Government Oweize Ekpemopolo a.k.a Tompolo to appear before it to face criminal charged filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Other accused persons in the charge sheet, numbered FHC/L/553c/2015, are – a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kemi Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem and Destre Consult Limited.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba issued the summons on Tompolo following a January 12 motion ex-parte moved by EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo.

    He ruled: “An order is granted to the applicant issuing a summons to compel the appearance of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) before this honourable court having been alleged to have committed the offences as contained in the body of the charge.”

    The judge also granted EFCC leave to serve the summons and the charge on Tompolo by affixing them on a conspicuous part of his address at 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State.

    Security agents on December 14 last year re-arrested Akpobolokemi outside the Federal High Court premises in Lagos moments after his trial for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government was adjourned.

    Policemen and plain clothes operatives swopped on him and bundled him into a waiting bus soon after Justice Buba adjourned trial to January 18.

  • Ex-NIMASA DG re-arrested over N11.7b paid to Tompolo

    Ex-NIMASA DG re-arrested over N11.7b paid to Tompolo

    Security agents yesterday re-arrested a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi outside the Federal High Court premises in Lagos moments after his trial for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government was adjourned.

    Policemen and plain clothes operatives swopped on him and bundled him into a waiting bus soon after Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned trial to January 18.

    Akpobolokemi’s re-arrest is linked to fresh allegations of fraud  of about   N12, 905, 485.000 meant for a maritime university.

    Of the sum, N11,737,854,485.00 was  allegedly  paid into a company suspected to be owned by Chief Government Oweize Ekpemopolo a.k.a Tompolo. He is also said to have diverted N816 million meant for the Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Members State Audit (VIMSAS).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Akpobolokemi and three others on charges of converting N2.6billion as well as defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.

    The others are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    In a 22-count charge, they were accused of converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 this year. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    Akpobolokemi and nine others, including two companies, were earlier arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court on a separate charge of conspiring among themselves to convert N3.4billion belonging to NIMASA. They also pleaded not guilty.

    It was learnt that Akpobolokemi, dressed in white, was released from prison custody at the weekend after perfecting the bail conditions imposed on him by Justice Buba.

    There was a mild drama as the operatives made to grab him as he left the courtroom. The defendant resisted the move, claiming that he was on bail.

    But the security agents, who ignored his protests, overpowered and bundled him into a waiting bus to the bemusement of onlookers.

    Effort by his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), to intervene and prevent his client’s re-arrest was unsuccessful.

    Justice Buba adjourned because three of the accused persons’ lawyer, Mr. Seni Adio, said he had just been briefed. He sought more time to study the case file.

    “I don’t even have a copy of the charge; I have no document whatsoever,” Adio said.

    Agaba’s lawyer, N.O. Balogun, also sought an adjournment, saying he was also only briefed over the weekend, after the former counsel, Mr. Madu Paschal, withdrew his representation on the grounds that he was planning a burial ceremony.

    EFCC’s lawyer Festus Keyamo urged the court to reject the applications for an adjournment in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    “This is one of the issues that this new law seeks to arrest: the law allows the court to take full control of its proceedings and not allow unnecessary delays at the instance of lawyers,” Keyamo said.

    But Justice Buba said considering new documents which the prosecution served on the defendants, and the fact that Adio deserved time to study the case file, he would adjourn.

  • Tompolo to FG: ‘You can’t push me into war’

    Tompolo to FG: ‘You can’t push me into war’

    • Explains why he can’t honour EFCC’s invitation for now

    Former militant leader and Gbaramatu traditional titleholder, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), yesterday dismissed his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a ploy to intimidate and witch-hunt him because of his refusal to back the candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the stalemated Bayelsa State governorship election.

    He said he would not honour the latest invitation from EFCC as he has already filed a suit in court against the commission.

    The anti-graft agency had given him one week to report at its Ikoyi, Lagos office to answer questions over a land matter.

    However, Tompolo reacting to reports that he was on the run on account of the EFCC’s invitation said: “I know why they are after me. It is not the alleged multi-billion naira property transaction. After all, it went through due process and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    “And as such if there are any questions to answer, it is the people at the FEC, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Federal Ministry of Lands and Survey, Federal Ministry of Transport, NIMASA, etc who approved the transaction that should be answering such questions.

    “The real reason this APC-led government is after me is that I bluntly refused to join APC and to support their Governorship candidate in Bayelsa State. We cannot all be in APC. Our people have always believed in the Nigerian project and had always hoped to join hands with this administration to move this project forward, but the conditions being attached are not acceptable. I insist on believing in the Nigerian project unconditionally!

    “The impression being conveyed is that I was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and I failed to honour the invitation or even respond by letter to the invitation”

    Tompolo said his lawyers’ response, stating why he wouldn’t honour EFCC’s invitation was conveyed to the EFCC on December 3, adding, “I have proof of delivery from the courier company.”

    He accused the EFCC of lying to Nigerians on allegation that he refused to honour the invitation, adding: “my Solicitor’s letter indicated I am already in court with the EFCC.

    “EFCC had been served with the court processes since 20th of October 2015 but they refused to attend court on several occasions, or to file any court papers, only to appear for the first time on 30th November 2015 without filing any court papers. They even asked for the matter to be adjourned to 17th December 2015, the date they are now inviting me to appear before them.

    “So the attempt to harass me by their reminder of 9th December 2015, which was leaked to the media on the 10th of December 2015 , the same day as it was delivered to my house in Warri is an unnecessary and face saving effort at brinksmanship.

    “As a full blooded Ijaw man and citizen of Nigeria, I have done everything in my power to follow the laws of Nigeria. Since the amnesty declared in 2009 by late President Yar’ Adua I have strained myself to ensure that we all live in peace in this country. Those who think they can push us to war must rethink the necessity of such a war.

    “They froze our business accounts since August 4th 2015, but we have not quarrelled with anybody. We sued them to court, they refused to come to court. Now they are threatening to declare me wanted.”

    On the threat by the EFCC to declare him wanted, Tompolo vowed that he would not be intimidated, adding, “The threat to declare me wanted is an unnecessary attempt to heat up the polity. I will go about my daily business, usual.”

     

  • N13b NIMASA land scam: EFCC invites Tompolo

    N13b NIMASA land scam: EFCC invites Tompolo

    Embattled former director general of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Security Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolekeimi is set for more trouble as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigates his godfather and former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo.

    Sources said the EFCC invited Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) to its zonal office in Port Harcourt.

    Although details about the invitation were not made known, sources said it was not unconnected with the N13 billion payment by Akpobolekeimi’s NIMASA to Tompolo.

    The invitation letter, it was learnt, was delivered to Tompolo’s resident in the exclusive Delta Estate in Warri, yesterday afternoon.

    Our source said the commission could declare the former Niger Delta militant leader wanted should he failed to honour the latest invitation.

    An EFCC source conversant with the matter, said: “After the first invitation, Tompolo did not show up; he said he was unavailable and sent his legal adviser to our office. This time we have sent another invitation to him to appear next Thursday (December 17) unfailingly, if he fails to turn up we will have to declare him wanted.”

    The first invitation referred to above was a letter dated November 18 and titled: ‘Investigation Activities, Letter of Invitation’.

    It was signed by Iliyasu Kwarbai, head of EFCC Operations in Lagos.

    It reads: “The commission is investigating a case in which your (Tompolo’s) name featured.

    “In view of the above you are requested to kindly report for an interview with the undersigned through the team leader.”

    Although the interview was fixed for 10 am at the EFCC Training Room, 15 Awolowo Road on November 25, it did not hold because Tompolo did not show up.

    Another letter was delivered to Tompolo’s home at DDPA extension Effurun-Warri by the commission’s operatives.

    The letter was received on his behalf by Jackson Edah.

    A copy of the letter obtained by our reporter in Lagos last night, stated: “We refer to our letter CR 3000/EFCC/CTG/TF/STF/VOL7/472 dated 18th November 18, which was acknowledged in your home, but did not report.”

    The new invitation scheduled an interview for December 17 in Lagos.

    It was learnt that the invitation was in connection with the N13 billion paid by Akpobolokeimi to Okerenkoko and other communities for the acquisition of the land for NIMASA Maritime University and boatyard.

    “We have petitions from various sources about how the land acquisition was done and the exorbitant fee paid by the former DG and Tompolo.

    “The focus of this investigation is to find out if the N13 billion was disbursed to owners of the land said to be members of Okerenkoko and Omadino communities.

    “Also, we are interested in ascertaining how the compensation of that magnitude was arrived at considering the location and the site acquired for the land.

    “There are also insinuations and allegations that the documents presented for the acquisition were forged because of the dispute over ownership of some of the land,” the EFCC said in Abuja.

    EFCC’s spokesman Osita Nwajah confirmed the invitation but declined to give details last night.

     

  • 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

  • Ex-militant urges Tompolo to stay off election

    Ex-militant urges Tompolo to stay off election

    An ex-militant leader in Bayelsa State, Africanus Ukparasia, popularly called Gen. Africa, yesterday warned Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, to steer clear of Bayelsa politics and election.

    He spoke in Yenagoa, alleging that there were reports of plans by Tompolo to interfere in the December 5 poll.

    Africa said intelligence reports at the disposal of ex-militants showed that Tompolo had allegedly prepared a strike squad to attack parts of Bayelsa State.

    He alleged that the squad had been told to hijack election materials and use them to rig for a particular candidate.

    Africa recalled that in the past, Tompolo attacked parts of the state.

    He noted that the ex-militant leader attacked the government jetty in Yenagoa and attempted to head for the Government House to bomb it before the military repelled him and his followers.

    The ex-militant leader said the attack occurred on April 20, 2007.

    He alleged that Tompolo’s foot soldiers attacked and destroyed the home of former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 17, 2007.

    Africa alleged that Tompolo sent some of his boys in the state to disrupt the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship primary election.

    He said three of the boys were arrested by the Department of State Sevices (DSS) in a hotel in Yenagoa.

    The ex-militant leader cautioned his colleagues in Delta State, saying the purpose of their agitation was not to attack sister-states and communities.

    He said he (Africa) also had the capacity to interfere in Delta State politics, if Tompolo did not desist from such activities.

    Africa warned of the consequences, if Tompolo attempted to attack Bayelsa State before, during and after the governorship election.

    He urged the police, DSS and other security agencies to place Tompolo under security watch.

    Tompolo, who spoke through his media adviser, Paul Bebenimibo, said Africa was talking rubbish.

    Bebenimibo queried Africa’s relationship with the Bayelsa poll, wondering why he should make a wild, unsubstantiated and spurious allegation against his principal, whom he described as a peaceful man.

    He said: “Who is Africa? What are his roles in Bayelsa election? Is he a contestant in the poll? Is he the Federal Government, police, DSS, military or what?

    “Who is he to get a report on Tompolo? As far as we are concerned, we don’t understand what he is saying. He is not making any sense at all.

    “My boss has nothing to do with the Bayelsa election. We don’t know his (Africa’s) relationship with the Bayelsa poll and for such a person to allege that Tompolo is planning to disrupt the election is senseless, unfortunate and unthinkable. The allegation does not make any sense to us.”

  • Tompolo: I wasn’t involved in shooting at $16b EPZ site

    Tompolo: I wasn’t involved in shooting at $16b EPZ site

    A former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), has dissociated himself from the alleged attack on workers at the site of the $16 billion gas project in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Tompolo, who was reacting to a report published on Monday, regretted that it was targeted at pitching him and his Ijaw compatriots of Gbaramatu clan against their Itsekiri neighbours.

    He warned reporters against using his name on reports that he knew nothing about.

    In a statement by his media consultant, Mr Paul Bebenimibo, the former MEND leader said: “Journalists are hereby warned to desist from this wicked practice as it will bring them nothing good but evil.

    “The very recent one being a report that boys loyal to High Chief Ekpemupolo allegedly shot at JAD Nigeria Limited workers, who were carrying out a clearing job at the Itsekiri end of the EPZ site. There is no iota of truth in that story. It is simply mischievous, frivolous and sensational.

    “He is aware of the evil tendency of some journalists to incite the Itsekiri against him and sell their newspapers. Let such journalists know that he is at peace with the Itsekiri. This was evident in his visit to leaders of the Itsekiri some time ago.

    “High Chief Ekpemupolo has nothing to do in the EPZ site as he has no contract or job to do in the EPZ site. This can be confirmed from the owners of the project.

    “The only interest he has in the EPZ project is the protection of what rightly belongs to the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom; that is Gbaramatu deep sea port, which land belongs to the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom and has been so designated by the Federal Government during the grand-breaking ceremony on March 26, 2015.”

  • $16b EPZ: Tompolo’s men sack site workers in Delta

    Gunmen, said to be loyal to former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), at the weekend chased away workers on the Madangho site of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project, Ogidigben, Delta State.

    The site workers were said to have been hired by an Itsekiri contractor and owner of JAD Catering.

    It was learnt that JAD Catering, a company belonging to a former chairman of Warri Southwest Local Government Area, was clearing the Madangho stretch of the project site when the gunmen chased them away.

    Tompolo reportedly got the clearing of the EPZ site at the Kpokpo axis; Chief Thomas Ereyitomi secured the other stretch of the clearing contract, leaving the Madangho site to JAD Catering.

    Attempts to get the comments of Tompolo’s lieutenant, Paul Bebenimibo, on the incident, were unsuccessful.

    His terse response to our correspondent’s questions was: “You are mischievous.”

    A source, who attributed the incident to Tompolo’s men, said the incident occurred at 3pm on Saturday.

    He said the workers were clearing the site when they were allegedly chased away at gun point by Tompolo’s men, who demanded compensation.

    It was learnt that although there were military men on the site, they watched the militants shoot severally into the air to scare the JAD workers.

    “The workers, who were clearing the site, were chased away by gun-wielding militants of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo over compensation.

    “They came in a large number while the military men on the project site looked away as the militants shot sporadically into the air to scare the JAD workers on site,” the source said.

    The Chairman of Ugborodo Interface Committee, Austin Oborogbeyi, could not be reached for comments last night.

  • Tompolo’s tomfoolery

    So, ex-militia leaders in the Niger Delta couldn’t agree on the need for a July 25 meeting called by one of them, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. Specifically, a messy boycott by former militants, Boyloaf, Africa, Pastor Reuben, Shoot-at-Sight, Ogunboss, Ateke Tom, Farrah, and Jomo Gbomo led to the eventual cancellation of the meeting.

    The reason given by Gbomo of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) suggested that there may have been more to the meeting than Tompolo claimed publicly. The MEND spokesman reportedly said the group would have nothing to do with Tompolo or any “assembly of dubious contractors and disgruntled elements.”

    The mention of “dubious contractors” is easy to understand against the background of the $103m (about N21billion) maritime security contract contentiously awarded by the past Goodluck Jonathan administration to the Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited linked with Tompolo. The Muhammadu Buhari presidency, according to reports, had ordered the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to break business links with Tompolo’s company. In this context, it is also understandable that Gbomo referred to “disgruntled elements” because the loss of such a huge contract may likely cause frustration and irritation.

    Of course, Tompolo defended his idea. He said in a statement: “The tension generated by the meeting is uncalled for, diversionary and mischievous as no evil is intended in whatever form.” The problem with his defence is that he sounded like one who was out to possibly terrorise the Federal Government.  Tompolo’s words: “While some of us understand to an extent, the apparent delay in the continued payment of the monthly stipend to the ex-agitators in view of the seeming scrutiny of government agencies, including the Amnesty Office, by the current administration, same cannot be said of the majority of beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme.”

    Tompolo continued: “While a few see the delay in the payment of their monthly stipends in the light of the need for the current government to settle in properly, others see the delay as a template to stop the programme. The expulsion of some students (home and overseas) by their schools and training institutions particularly has heightened these fears.” What Tompolo was trying to say in so many words was that the Presidency may be sitting on a powder keg.

    It is thought-provoking that Boyloaf, one of the boycotters, reportedly advised the security agencies to be on full alert. The timing of the meeting was a big issue for the boycotters who argued that it was premature because the Buhari administration was yet to clarify its plans for the Niger Delta. Their position amounted to questioning Tompolo’s sense of judgement. Interestingly also, Tompolo’s move is believed to have been prompted by his perception of himself as the pre-eminent militant and militia commander in the region, meaning he is probably suffering from delusion of grandeur.

    The intervention of Bayela State Governor Seriake Dickson, who proposed an alternative forum at a later date, ought to give Tompolo time to rethink his tomfoolery. The question is whether he would do so.