The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 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.
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