Court Grants EFCC Orders To Seize Tompolo's Properties

Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted order for the forfeiture of all identifiable properties belonging to a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

The judge made this order following Tompolo’s refusal to appear in court over a 40-count charge of money laundering and diversion of about N34 billion and N11 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA filed against him and nine others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The counsel to EFCC, Barr. Festus Keyamo had sought for the order to seize the properties pending when the suspect submits himself to answer charges leveled against him as Tomopolo’s evidently refused to appear despite warrant of arrest issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on 14^th January.

According to the record, the affected 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 ares are a Driving School at Kurutie, Escravos River; the property known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the Palace and any other property discovered by the EFCC, moveable and immoveable, belonging to Tompolo.

Nine others charged alongside are: Patrick Akpobolokemi (former DG of NIMASA), Global West Vessel, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Ltd, 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 Friday, counsel to EFCC, Festus Keyamo told the court that the warrant of arrest issued by the court has not been excuted despite the “best efforts” of all the security agencies in the country.

Following Tompolo’s deliberate disappearance, EFCC,s counsel sought the leave of court to amend the charges by removing the name of Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo from the charge, so that the trial of other accused persons could commence.

Arguing on the motion exparte, the defense counsel opposed on the ground that they were not served leading the trial judge, Justice Buba ruled that a motion exparte needs not to be served on parties before grant by the court.

Invoking Sections 80 and 81 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Keyamo prayed the court to order the forfeiture of properties belonging to Tompolo pending the time he would appear in court adding that after three months, the court can pronounce an order for the properties to be auctioned except he appears.

In the ruling, Justice Buba held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 empowers the court to seize properties of an accused that refused to submit for trial, and therein ordered forfeiture of properties belonging to Tompolo pending the time he chooses to appear in court.

However, the court declined to include the limited liability companies as shortlisted by the EFCC until the directors are unveiled to the court adding that rather than the accused appear to answer the charges leveled against him, he engaged the services of a senior advocate of Nigeria to file a motion towards setting aside the warrant of arrest.
The matter has been adjourned till March 22 for hearing.