NIMASA fraud: EFCC seeks court order to seize Tompolo's property

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking a court order to seize all property belonging to former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

In the ex-parte motion filed by Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Festus Keyamo at the Federal High Court, Lagos , the Commission's sought order is pursuant to Section 80 & 81 of the Administration and Criminal justice Act, 2015.

The EFCC said the property seizure was sought pending the arrest and arraignment of Tompolo before the court.

The following property were listed in the application: Property at N0. 1 Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State, All property of Mieka Dive Limited and Mieka Dive Training Institute Limited situated at No. 77, Lioth Street, ODPA Ugborikoko, Uvwie Local Government Area, of Delta State. All property of Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, All property of Muhaabix Global Services Limited and A River Crew Change Boat named MUHA - 15.

Others are: The property known as 'Tompolo Dockyard', by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri, the 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 and another known as 'Tompolo House' at Oporaza Town opposite the palace.

The former militant warlord was recently declared wanted by the anti-graft agency following his failure to appear before the court to face trial on the charges preferred against him.

Tompolo and the former Director of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and eight others were accused by EFCC of converting about 34 billion Naira belonging to the agency for their personal use.

While the others including Akpobolokemi had appeared in court to answer to the 40 count charges filed against them by the anti-graft agency, Tompolo had failed to be in court twice which made the court grant an order for his arrest.

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, handling the case, had on January 12 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Tompolo.

Again on February, 8, the judge renewed his orders, and also directed all security agencies in Nigeria to produce Tompolo in court. - Channels.