EFCC Goes After Properties Of Tompolo, Ex Militant Leader Playing Hide & Seek With Govt

Information filtering in revealed that

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. Tompolo 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.”

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