At last, former militant leader, Government Ekpumupolo (aka Tompolo) yesterday agreed to appear before a Federal High Court in Lagos which had ordered his arrest since January 14 this year. He said his lawyers are preparing for his appearance in court for alleged fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed different charges against Tompolo, including diversion of N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to personal use and laundering of N22.6 billion.
Tompolo, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, also said he would never commence war against the Federal Government having accepted amnesty in 2009, reiterating that he was not party to the recent three-day bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in Delta State. But another ex-militant leader, General Afirca Ukparasia had accused Tompolo of sponsoring the attack.
“Tompolo has no reason to bomb pipelines because of EFCC case, he knows he is innocent. As he has stated on several occasions, he will appear in court at the appropriate time as his lawyers are working towards that,” he said.
Tompolo maintained, “the truth of the matter is that I do not know anything about the N34 billion the EFCC is talking about, first, it was N13 billion issue, now it is N34 billion. I am not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said N34 billion case. So, I do not know where this one is coming from,” he said.
Reacting to the allegation by Ukparasia, (aka General Africa) that he bombed pipelines, Tompolo said he alerted the public that some aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC), members in Bayesla and Delta states want to destroy national assests in Niger Delta and fingered him because of the outcome of the Bayelsa governorship election.
According to the statement, “and true to his fears, this set of APC chieftains that joined the party immediately after the presidential election of 2015 were the first people to accuse him of bombing the pipelines to divert public attention.”
On the speedboats for war, Tompolo said, “it is the biggest lie of the year, as the military is also aware of the boats and pick-up vans he purchased in 2011 for the surveillance of oil facilities as he was working with the military then.
“Tompolo is a man of peace and he is poised for the development of the coastal Niger Delta region. He prays that this matter be amicably resolved so that everyone will know that he always put his people above his personal gains.
“And true to his fears, this set of APC chieftains that joined the party immediately after the presidential election of 2015, were the first people to accuse him of bombing the pipelines to divert public attention.
“These new APC members who the former chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described as parasites, also threatened to cause problem in the Niger Delta region if the pipeline surveillance contract in Delta State already awarded is not re-awarded to them.
“This is a clear testimony of their involvement in the bombing of the pipelines. Since then, we all have seen their role in misleading the military and the general public,” he said.
THE SUN
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