Court Orders Seizure Of Tompolo’s Properties

JUSTICE Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday ordered the forfeiture of multi-billion naira properties belonging to the former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

The judge made the order following his refusal to appear in court over allegations of money laundering and stealing of about N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Properties to be forfeited include a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15; the property known as “Tompolo Dockyard” by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri; and the property known as “Tompolo Yard”, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri.

Others are the Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River; the property known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the palace and any other property discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), moveable and immoveable, belonging to Tompolo.

Justice Buba had on January 14, 2016 issued a bench warrant against Tompolo and ordered his arrest for failing to honour a court summons dated January 12, in respect of a 40-count charge of alleged N34 billion fraud leveled against him and nine others by the EFCC.

Those charged together with Tompolo are: Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel, Odimiri Electrical Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Ltd, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warrendi Enisuoh.

The suspects allegedly diverted N34 billion which accrued from the Public Private Partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited for personal use.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, counsel to EFCC, Festus Keyamo told the court that the warrant of arrest issued by the court had not been executed despite the “best efforts” of all the security agencies in the country.

He stated that all the nation’s security agencies were involved in the search for Tompolo but his whereabouts were not known yet.

Consequently, he sought the leave of court to amend the charge by removing the name of Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo from the charge so that the trial of other accused persons could commence.

Keyamo also drew the attention of the court to motion exparte dated February 18, 2016 praying the court for an order authorising EFCC to seize properties belonging to the former militant leader.

But, virtually all the defence counsels opposed the motion exparte on the grounds that they were not served with copies of the motion.

Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), counsel to the 2nd defendant and Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN) counsel to 7 and 8 defendants, along with other defence counsels argued that it was necessary for them to have copies of the motion exparte in the interest of justice and fairness.

However, Justice Buba ruled that a motion exparte needs not to be served on parties adding that the motion is specifically directed to the first accused (Tompolo) who was neither in court nor represented by a lawyer.

Moving the motion brought pursuant to Sections 80 and 81 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Keyamo prayed the court for an order of forfeiture of properties belonging to Tompolo pending the time he would appear in court.

He stated that after three months, the court could order the properties to be auctioned if he (Tompolo) did not make himself available in court.