News As Court Orders Immediate Arrest of Tompolo

N34bn fraud: Court orders immediate arrest of Tompolo

The latest news flashing in has it that Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday ordered the immediate arrest of a former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. The court ordered Tompolo’s arrest following his refusal to appear in court over allegation of money laundering and stealing of over N34bn belonging Administration to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
All the accused persons, including a former Director- General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, were present in court with the exception of Tompolo, whose absence stalled their arraignment. Other defendants that appeared in court are; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electrical Limited and Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh respectively. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had filed a 40-count charge of money laundering, conspiracy, stealing and diversion of funds against them. The suspects allegedly diverted N34bn, which accrued from the Public Private Partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited for personal use.

Not long after the case was called, EFCC lead counsel, Festus Keyamo urged the court to issue bench warrant on Tompolo, adding that he had consistently shunned several invitations by EFCC. Keyamo informed the court that instead of coming to honour the invitation, Tompolo in an advertorial threatened to unleash war on the country and acted like a “war lord.”
But, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, lawyer to Akpobolokemi (2nd defendant) urged the court to exercise restraint and give Tompolo more time to appear in court. But, Justice Buba in his ruling issued a bench warrant on Tompolo and ordered the police to produce him in court by all means.
Justice Buba is his short ruling held that “when a defendant has refused to come to court, the proper thing is to serve him with a court summons to appear. “When he appears, that is the end of the matter, the allegation would be read to him. But, if he failed to appear in obedience to the summons, the other process to compel his attendance is by way of arrest.

We gathered that “The processes that led to the substituted service on Tompolo are before the court by way of affidavit evidence. There is also an affidavit showing that the first defendant was served as ordered by the court. “In the circumstances, the court is in a position to exercise its discretion to order for the arrest of Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo to compel his attendance to answer the allegation before the court under section 131 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015 and it is thereby ordered that the warrant of arrest of Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo shall be issued forthwith,” Justice Buba held.

The presiding judge ordered other accused present to return to where they came from (either from EFCC custody or from their respective homes) and adjourned the matter till February 8 for mention. Shortly after the ruling, counsel to the 7th and 8th defendant, Emeka Okpoko informed the court that his client had been in EFCC custody for two days and sought clarification on whether they should be given administrative bail. EFCC had in the Motion Exparte asked the court to compel Tompolo to appear in court having been alleged to have committed the offence in the charge.
The court also granted the request of EFCC to serve Tompolo through substituted means by pasting the court summon in a conspicuous part of his home, located at No 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri Delta State. Some of the allegations levels against the accused are:
“That you, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, in 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sums of N601,516.13 (Six hundred and one thousand, five hundred and sixteen naira, thirteen kobo), and $1,766,428.62 (One million, seven hundred and sixty-six thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight dollars, sixty-two cents), property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money
“That you, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, in 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sums of N601,516.13 (Six hundred and one thousand, five hundred and sixteen naira, thirteen kobo), and $1,766,428.62 (One million, seven hundred and sixty-six thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight dollars, sixty-two cents), property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
The alleged offences are contrary to Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.