N13BILLION FRAUD:
Tompolo Plots to Flee Nigeria…Plans Route of Escape Exposed
*Ex-Militant Vows Never to Honour Court Invitation
*EFCC, Police storm Niger Delta, Intensify search for his hideout
*Nigerian Security Agencies on the Trail of ex-MEND’s commander, tracks his phone lines
*“Security Agencies should do their work, not to allow him Escape. We want to know whether Tompolo can be an Outlaw in a Lawful Society”-Festus Keyamo, Fiery Human Rights Lawyer
*QUOTE:“He wanted to be where no one would know he was. He wanted to escape from himself”-Oscar Wilde
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/CNN iReport Journalist
“WHEN you start hiding things away, that’s when darkness creeps up. Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” stated Steve Kazee, an evergreen philosopher. This philosophy is so apt for a former Niger Delta warlord,Government Ekpemupolo, notoriously known as ‘Tompolo’ who defrauded the Nigerian Government in a hoax land deal to the tune of N13billion.
For this fugitive, already declared wanted with the issuance of bench warrant for his arrest by Justice Ibrahim Buba of Federal High Court in Lagos, it is only a matter of time before the long arms of the law will sniff him out wherever he is holed up.
Tompolo Plots to Flee Nigeria…Plans Route of Escape Exposed
In this developing story, a new twist has been added with an intelligence reports reaching this correspondent that Tompolo is plotting thickly to escape from the shores of Nigeria. According to this shocking revelation, this ex-militant still holed up in some of the bunkers in Niger Delta, Bayelsa State to be precise never bother to consider the option of airports because he knows he will be arrested, handcuffed and turned-in for prosecution easily.
Intelligence reports show that Tompolo is planning to still remain underground in Niger Delta for weeks(allowing the tension of his contempt to Court to die down), while attempts would be made by some of his most trusted aides to sneak him out of the bunkers under the cover of darkness, until he eventually arrives Lagos, disguised. And since his ‘loyal boys’ strongly believe Nigerian security agencies at Seme Border could be bought with a price, they (the security agencies) will be settled financially, while the former Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) Commander would be allowed to escape freely into a neighbouring African country.
Tompolo’s Aide confirms…
Corroborating this view, even though not permitted to speak to the press on this subject, Koriadu Bogoma, a close friend to one of the aides of Tompolo disclosed that: “Early last month-about 4 weeks ago, one of Tompolo’s closest aides told me in trust that the ex-Niger Delta has vowed never, ever to appear before any Nigerian Court or surrender himself to the authourity. He believes he is the law, the authority in Niger Delta. No one dares challenge him, not even any state government officials. Everyone fears him. His plan is to escape from Nigeria by road through the border to Angola to seek asylum and court pronouncement against his extradition. Tompolo knows all the routes in the bunkers, hideouts in the whole of Niger Delta since he is very familiar with the difficult trenches of the area than anyone else. He was the architectural brain behind all MEND major ratiocinates in the past. Security agencies cannot see or arrest him inside the bunkers because they can not enter those complicated trenches.”
EFCC, Police storm Niger Delta, Intensify search for his hideout
As at the time of filling in this report, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives and Nigerian police detectives have arrived Niger Delta, sniffing information on the whereabouts and hideouts of Tompolo in this region. To ensure this former militant leader is captured alive, Nigerian Security agencies are presently on the Trail of the ex-MEND’s commander by tracking his phone lines through mobile telephone networks in the country, with the sole aim to know exactly where he is at every point in time; his discussion with people, whom he is discussing with. All leads on his movement and activities in Niger Delta are presently under monitoring radar.
“Security Agencies should do their work, not to allow him Escape. We want to know whether Tompolo can be an Outlaw in a Lawful Society”-Festus Keyamo, Fiery Human Rights Lawyer
Festus Keyamo, a famous human rights activist and Attorney to the Complainant (Federal Government) on this matter, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent tasked security agencies to effectively effect Tompolo’s arrest. His words: “I have done my best in securing bench warrant for his arrest. Security agencies should do their work to apprehend Tompolo and not allow him escape. I have asked the Court that I want to know if Tompolo can be an outlaw in a lawful society. I am closely watching the development.”
For the records, Tompolo is to answer a 40-count of alleged N13bn fraud levelled against him by EFCC, while all his co-accused, including a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, were present in court today, only Tompolo failed to appear.
Justice Ibrahim Buba consequently issued a bench warrant on Tompolo and ordered the police to produce him in court by all means.
