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Tag: Tompolo

  • Okowa congratulates former militant leader Tompolo at 50

    Okowa congratulates former militant leader Tompolo at 50

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has congratulated a Niger Delta activist and ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, on the occasion of 50th birthday.

    Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Monday in Asaba, said that Ekpemupolo remained an illustrious son of Niger Delta, who had contributed immensely to the peace and development of the zone.

    He said that Tompolo’s crave for development of Niger Delta compelled him to embrace the presidential amnesty offered by the Federal Government to armed agitators in the zone in 2009, thereby ending the near-intractable militancy in the area.

    “Tompolo contributed hugely to the restoration and sustenance of peace in Delta, while his swift intervention in one of those “tough times’’ helped to nip a dangerously brewing crisis in the state and the zone in the bud,” he said.

    Okowa urged him to continue to do good, as it was fulfilling and rewarding to be benevolent “especially now that you have attained the golden age.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I felicitate an illustrious son of Niger Delta, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, on the occasion of his 50th birth anniversary.

    “Tompolo, as he is fondly called, is an embodiment of peace and has contributed greatly to the peace and development of the oil-rich Niger Delta and has continued to partner governments in the maintenance of peace in the region. We are grateful to him for his support.

    “As he celebrates his golden jubilee, it is my prayer and that of the people of Delta that God will continue to bless him with good health and wisdom to continue in his service to humanity,” he stated.

  • Amnesty boss meets Ateke Tom, Tompolo, Boyloaf, two other ex-militant leaders

    Amnesty boss meets Ateke Tom, Tompolo, Boyloaf, two other ex-militant leaders

    The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (retd) has held a crucial meeting with five prominent former militant leaders in the Niger Delta famously referred to as the Big Five.

    It was gathered that the former five commanders of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) who met with Dikio were the Amayanabo of Okochiri in Okirika, Rivers State, King Ateke Tom; Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo; Victor Ben Ebikabowei aka Boyloaf and High Chief Ajube Bibopiri popularly called Shoot-at-Sight.

    It was learnt that though Tompolo was not present at the meeting, he sent a representative.

    It was further gathered that the meeting, which was called at the instance of Dikio, held at the palace of Ateke Tom in Okochiri on Friday.

    A source, who attended the parley, said it was designed to find lasting solutions to emerging threats to the fragile peace in the region.

    The source, who spoke in confidence and described the meeting as strategic, said the amnesty boss intimated the former creek warlords about the reforms in the amnesty office and the new direction of the programme.

    He said Dikio reeled out the reasons for the failures of the scheme in the past and solicited their cooperation to realise the main objectives of PAP.

    He added that the amnesty boss emphasised the need to deepen the peace in the Niger Delta and tackle all the threats in the region insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Security Adviser (NSA) desired an optimum performance for PAP.

    “Dikio was more particular about sustaining peace in the region. He insisted that without peace the region would not develop and called on the Big Five to help in deepening the existing peace and eliminating all the threats in the region. It was a fruitful deliberation that strengthened the bond of brotherhood for the overall good of the Niger Delta.”

    He further quoted the amnesty boss as saying: “This meeting is for us to sit down together in a friendly atmosphere and have a heart to heart discussion on the past, present and the future of the PAP.”

    The source said after the general meeting, Dikio met behind closed doors with the former militant “generals” and later had dinner with them.

    One of the pioneers of PAP, Richard Akinika, confirmed the meeting and commended Dikio for consulting critical stakeholders describing it as a step in the right direction.

    He said the previous two administrators failed woefully because they refused to undertake the first step of consulting the owners of the programme.

    Akinika said: “The meeting was a familiarity visit. PAP is about the leaders, who came out boldly and submitted their arms. The previous two administrators after Kingsley Kuku failed woefully which informed suspensions, investigations and led to the emergence of this sole administration.

    “For me as a pioneer of that programme what the man has done is the right thing. When you come to somewhere you need to meet with the people, who own the programme, seek their opinion and sound them out on what their expectations are and it will inform your starting point.

    “The man has started well. He is a Niger Delta man; a retired colonel and one, who has run such programme outside the country. What he has done is a good step. This is what others failed to do that made them fail.

    “If you don’t have the support of the owners of the project, it will derail. It was an opportunity for the leaders to meet themselves. Boyloaf, Shoot-at-Sight and King Ateke Tom. It was like the old days and the need for them to work together.”

  • Photo: Ex-militant, Tompolo makes first public appearance after six years

    Photo: Ex-militant, Tompolo makes first public appearance after six years

    Former militant leader Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo has made his first public appearance after hiding from security agencies for six years.

    Tompolo, who led the disbanded Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), went underground immediately President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in in 2015, as the Federal Government deployed troops to fish him out.

    The government also declared him wanted through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for ignoring two bench warrants issued against him by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, following alleged N45.5billion fraud case.

    But the court on July 15, 2019 dismissed the charges against Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, a company linked to the former Niger Delta militant leader.

    Despite the judgment, Tompolo failed to appear in public until October 19, 2020, when sources said he made a sudden appearance at the Egbesu shrine in his Oporoza country home in Gbaramatu, Delta State.

    A picture of his appearance showed the former warlord and his friends dancing, worshipping and offering thanksgiving to Egbesu, the Ijaw god.

    An Egbesu disciple, Bodmas Kemepadei, who confirmed the development, said the appearance of Tompolo, who is the Egbesu priest, would help to facilitate resolutions of knotty issues in the Niger Delta.

  • Tompolo floors FG, wins N34bn fraud case against firm

    Tompolo floors FG, wins N34bn fraud case against firm

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed the entire 40 counts bordering on alleged N34bn fraud filed by the Federal Government against Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, a company linked to a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

    The other defendants in the case were a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpolokemi, Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Warredi Enisuoh.

    Three other firms – Odimiri Electrical Limited; Boloboere Property and Estate Limited; and Destre Consult Limited – were also defendants in the criminal case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2015.

    Tompolo was initially joined as the first defendant in the case, but following his refusal to answer repeated court summonses, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), who handled the case for the EFCC, had to apply to the court that Tompolo’s name be removed from the charge sheet.

    In a ruling on Wednesday on the defendants’ no-case submission, Justice Ibrahim Buba pronounced that the prosecution “failed to establish a prima facie case” against the defendants.

  • Naval officer arrested for allegedly stealing Tompolo’s transformers

    A personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Usman Shaibu, has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for allegedly stealing multi-billion naira properties belonging to a former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

    Lance Corporal Usman Shaibu was arrested alongside two other suspects identified as Okugbe Lucky and Chime Chukwuka while allegedly moving some properties from Tompolo’s jetty near the Chevron Clinic in Edjeba community in the Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

    The suspects were arrested on Sunday by a police team led by the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of ‘A’ Division Warri, Mr Kelvin Zuokumor, following a tip-off from members of the public over alleged illegal movement of items from the yard.

    The transformer allegedly stolen are part of the properties seized by the Federal Government two years ago.

    The younger brother of Ex-Niger Delta Freedom Fighter, Hon. George Ekpemupolo confirmed the report to newsmen in the state.

    The former Warri South-West Council Chairman said, “They arrived at about 6:45pm. I was called by somebody at Chevron Clinic saying he saw people entering Tompolo’s yard and that I should come and confirm if we have sold the things in the yard. I immediately called the police and they were arrested already carrying the transformer.

    “The Naval Personnel, Lance Corporal was arrested with the driver and conductor of the Self-loader. The Naval pleaded that we take the matter easy with him but I insisted he should be arrested and taken to the Police Station for questioning and prosecution.”

    Upon interrogation at the Charge Room at the Police Station, Shaibu confessed to committing the crime, disclosing the names of his fleeing colleagues.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, confirming the arrest of the naval personnel said the case was being investigated at the moment.

    “He (Shaibu) took a pay loader to the premises to steal the property. He has confessed to the crime. He was the one that organised everything which he also admitted.

    “He is currently in police custody. He was found with the vehicle and everything. It is a complete crime”, CP Mustafa added.

  • Tompolo, a true patriot of the Niger Delta – Muoboghare

    A former Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Primary School Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare has described ex-militant commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo as a true patriot of the Niger Delta region.

    Prof. Muoboghare made the remarks at a Colloquium/Book Presentation in honour of Professor Godini Gabriel Darah at the Petroleum Training Institution (PTI), Conference Centre, Effurun.

    He said Tompolo is a true patriot of the region for the major role he played in founding both the (MEND) and also his fighters that drew the Federal Government’s attention in establishment of the Maritime University at Okenrenkoko.

    The former Basic and Primary School Education Commissioner lampooned persons criticizing Tompolo for selling his buildings and other facilities at the International Diving School he built at Kurutie, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government, Delta State, to the FG at an alleged sum of N13 billion, which the Federal Government acquired for the Maritime University, Okerenkoko to have a rethink saying that FG cannot even build those facilities at that cost as a result of the difficult terrain.

    The book titled Scholarship and Commitment: Essays in Honour of G. G. Darah was edited by the trio of Sunny Awhefeada, Enajite Ojaruega and Peter Omoko, and published by Lagos-based publishing outfit, Malthouse.

    The event was chaired by the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and the Special Guests of Honour, the Governors of Delta and Bayelsa States, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon Seriake Dickson were represented by their Chiefs of Staff. The 101-year-old Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, HRM, Ovie Richard Ogbon Ogoni-Oghoro 1 and HRM, Matthew Ediri Egbi JP. Owawha 11, the Okobaro of Ughievwen kingdom were in attendance. Other dignitaries included the former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama, Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, Rev Fr Christopher Ekabo, Hon Evelyn Oboro, Hon Efe Afe, Chief Francis Arhiyor, the academia and others.

     

  • Tompolo: Appeal Court backs seizure of properties by EFCC

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, seeking to set aside the decision of the Federal High Court, Lagos which empowered the EFCC to seize all the properties belonging to the ex-militant.

    Justice I. N. Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, had on February 19, 2016 made an order seizing Tompolo’s properties for failure to appear to answer the charges against him.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on December 15, 2015 instituted a criminal charge against Tompolo and nine others over allegations of fraud at Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

    However, despite substituted service of the court summons effected on him, Tompolo refused to appear in court. Consequently, Justice Buba issued a warrant of arrest against him. Armed with the warrant of arrest, the commission launched a manhunt for him, but could not effect his arrest.

    On February 19, 2016, the EFCC, through its counsel, Festus Keyamo, prayed the court for an order attaching the properties of Tompolo by seizure, pending his arrest and/or appearance before the court. The court granted the commission’s request prompting Tompolo to appeal against the decision.

    However, in a unanimous judgment on Thursday, the Court of Appeal held that Tompolo cannot be heard complaining that his properties are attached by the Court below, when he has not come to answer to the summons against him.

    The court held that the option available to Tompolo is to appear before the Federal High Court to apply for the order to be discharged, instead of filing the appeal.

    The Court of Appeal was of the view that his private right of property has not been breached by the said order.

  • Appeal Court okays bench warrant against Tompolo

    The Court of Appeal in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed the appeal brought by Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo against the EFCC over the Bench Warrant issued against him by Justice Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the EFCC had on December 15,2015 instituted a Criminal Charge against Tompolo and nine others. The commission, through its counsel, Festus Keyamo, could not serve Tompolo personally with the summons. On January 12, 2016, Mr. Keyamo applied and obtained an order for substituted service of the said summons by pasting same on Tompolo’s last known address at No. 1 Agbanu DDPA Extension Warri, Delta State.

    However, despite the substituted service of same on Tompolo, he refused, neglected and failed to appear in court in response to the summons. Consequently, on January 14, 2016 Justice Buba issued a warrant for the arrest of Tompolo pursuant to Section 131 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    Tompolo thereafter filed a Motion on Notice dated the January 27, 2016 seeking the following reliefs: an order of court setting aside its order of January 12, 2016 for issuance of Summons to compel the appearance of the defendant; an order setting aside Charge No: FHC/L/553C/15 and service of summons to compel the appearance of the defendant and, an order setting aside the Warrant for the arrest of the defendant issued on January 14, 2016.

    After arguments, Justice Buba dismissed Tompolo’s motion. Dissatisfied, Tompolo appealed the dismissal of his motion.

    In its judgment on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal agreed with the commission that Tompolo had been properly served with the summons and saw no reason to set aside the Bench Warrant still subsisting against him. The court unanimously held that Tompolo’s appeal is devoid of any merit and thereby dismissed it. The court upheld the decision of Justice Buba to issue a Bench Warrant against Tompolo.

     

  • N46bn fraud: Court dismisses Tompolo’s suit to stop trial

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed the suit filed Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tomopolo, challenging a criminal charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

    Tompolo, through his lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, had approached the court seeking nullification of Section 221 and 306 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, under which he was charged.

    He argued that the two sections violate his constitutional right to fair hearing.

    Joined as defendants in the suit are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; the Inspector-General of Police; the Chief of Army Staff; the Chief of Naval Staff; and the Chief of Air Staff.

    In the application, Tompolo also argued that both Sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA are unconstitutional since they seek to prevent the court from exercising its jurisdiction to entertain any objection to a criminal charge.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Section 221 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, provides:
    “objections shall not be taken or entertained during proceedings or trial on the ground of an imperfect or erroneous charge.”

    Section 306 states that “an application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before a court shall not be entertained”.

    Responding to Tompolo’s application, the federal government, through its lawyer, Idris Mohammed, urged the court to dismiss the suit with a substantive cost, saying it is an abuse of court process.

    Dismissing the suit, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun held that the Supreme Court had affirmed that whether a charge is defective or not, an accused is bound to first take his plea.

    He added that an interlocutory application could stop a criminal trial.

    The judge, however, did not award any cost against the plaintiff.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalled that Justice Ibrahim Buba of the same court had on January14, 2016, issued a warrant for the arrest of Tompolo, after he failed to show up for his trial.

    The EFCC had charged Tompolo alongside nine others for an alleged N45.9 billion fraud.

    NAN

     

  • Exclusive: Osinbajo secretly meets Tompolo other N/Delta agitators

    The presidency’s fact-finding team, headed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo , yesterday had a closed door meeting with ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and other Niger Delta agitators.

    The fact finding team was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to visit the troubled Niger Delta region and obtain first-hand information from the people in order to understudy the problems and frequent conflicts between the region and government

    TheNewsGuru gathered from a very reliable source that the Osinbajo-led team which started its job at Oporoza, traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom [home base of Tompolo], had a meeting with the ex-militant leader.

    According to our source the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Paul Boroh had earlier held a meeting with the militants to prepare the ground for Osinbajo’s visit to N/Delta.

    Our source added, “Prior to Osinbajo’s visit several other meetings took place between federal government representatives and the militants at Benin, Abuja and other places before the militants finally agreed to meet with the vice president.”

    The meeting between Osinbajo and Tompolo our source said had in attendance Minister for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, Boroh, Tompolo himself, Itsekiri’s Ayiri Emami, representatives of the Niger Delta Avengers among other agitators in the region.

    Full details soon…