EFCC moves to seize Tompolo’s assets

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) is making moves to
seize some assets belonging to a former
Niger Delta militant leader, Government
Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo who is yet to to
honour invitations extended to him by the
anti-graft agency.
The EFCC filed 40 counts against Tompolo
and nine others, including the immediate-
past Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick
Akpobolokemi.
Tompolo and nine others are facing a charge
of N45.9bn fraud preferred against them by
the EFCC but all efforts to get the militant
war lord to appear in court has proved
abortive.
A court issued a bench warrant against
Tompolo on January 14, 2016, but pending
when he will appear to answer charges of
fraudulent activities leveled against him the
EFCC, the anti-graft agency has applied to a
Federal High Court in Lagos for an order to
seize some assets belonging to the former
Niger Delta militant leader.
According to the Punch, the application dated
February 18, 2016 was filed by the EFCC
lawyer, Festus Keyamo, pursuant to sections
80 and 81 of the administration of criminal
justice act 2015.
Assets owned by Tompolo which the EFCC is
intending to seize include: his house located
at No. 1, Chief Agbamu Close DDPA
Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State; Mieka
Dive Ltd.; Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd.;
Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd.
Others are: Muhaabix Global Services Ltd.; a
River Crew Change Boat named MUHA -15;
“Tompolo Dockyard,” “Tompolo Yard,” the
Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River;
“Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite
the Palace.
Speaking on Tompolo’s refusal to appear in
court, a lawyer from Keyamo’s chambers,
Adah Adah, said : “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.
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“That since the order for the arrest of the 1st
accused person, the combined team of the
Nigeria 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.”
Meanwhile, the Cross River state Governor,
Ben Ayade has again reiterated the need to
address youth restiveness in the Niger Delta
region noting that children will always
become restive growing up in the present
condition of the region.
Receiving the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria,
Mr Sean Hoy in Calabar, Governor Ayade said
the crisis and challenges of Niger Delta are
unpardonable adding that no development
can take place where crisis and tension exist.