Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has issued a warrant for the arrest of a former Niger Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
The judge gave the order after Tompolo shunned the order to unconditionally appear before the Court on Wednesday to answer a 40-count of alleged N13bn fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The order, which was granted in Charge No: FHC/L/553c/2015, was sequel to a motion ex-parte brought by the EFCC.
Also affected by the order were former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Tompolo’s company, Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimixi Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.
While all his co-accused were present in court, Tompolo failed to appear.
The 40-count charge include the conversion of N601, 516.13 and $1, 766, 428.62, property of NIMASA, into private concerns; conversion of NIMASA’s N27,690,113.79 and $17, 491, 378.64, as well as another N27, 690,113.79 and $17, 491, 378.64, belonging to the agency to personal use, 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.
Akpobolokemi was rearrested after he was granted bail by a competent court because of fresh N34 billion fraud allegations against him.
The commission had asked Tompolo to appear on December 17, 2015 for questioning in respect of the N13 billion land acquisition controversy for Nigerian Maritime University in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, with a threat to declare him wanted should he fail to appear.
Tompolo was granted full on June 27, 2009 when he embraced the offer by the Federal Government of Nigeria under late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Before then, he was commander of hundreds of militants who attacked government and multinational oil companies.
