The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, February 19, told a federal judge that the manhunt launched to find former militant leader, Government 'Tompolo' Ekpemupolo has been fruitless.
According to the counsel to EFCC, Festus Keyamo, a combined team of policemen and soldiers have been combing the creeks for weeks but Tompolo is no where to be found.
On February 8, the court had issued a warrant for Tompolo's arrest after he failed to honour multiple invitations to appear to appear before the EFCC for questioning.
The Commission however declared him wanted last week.
“We wish to inform the court that the warrant of arrest that this court issued in respect of the first defendant (Mr. Ekpemupolo) has not been executed despite the best efforts of all the security agents in this country,” Keyamo told the judge.
“Every security agent in this country is involved in the search for the first defendant. What is unfolding is something that has never been seen before in this country for a very long time”, he said.
In view of the situation, Keyamo moved a motion for an adjournment to allow the prosecution separate the charges “so we can go on with the other accused persons”.
He also filed an application urging the court to order the seizure of all identified properties belonging to the former militant leader.
The assets listed include property at No. 1 Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State; all properties of Muhaabix Global Services Ltd; a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15; the property known as “Tompolo Dockyard”, by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri.
Others are a property known as “Tompolo Yard”, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri; 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, moveable and immoveable, belonging to the first accused person.
“This application is to further secure the attendance of the first accused person. The law says that the court can order the confiscation of his properties until he appears,” Keyamo said.
“Any third party can bring an application later, but we have intelligence reports that those properties and companies belong to the first accused person.
“If he fails to appear within three months, the federal government will auction off all the assets.”
Ruling on the application, the judge ordered that the seizure of the listed properties and adjourned till March 22 for the separation of the charges on the defendants.
Tompolo and the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,(NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi, have been accused of diverting billions of naira belonging to the agency.
Others charged in the alleged fraud are Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu, and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.
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