WARRI, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Federal Governmnet has been urged to thread softly on the prosecution of former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (NDDC), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
This is just as avenues to reach some of his aides such as mobile lines, Facebook, Twitter, and other internet and electronic means have been inaccessible to journalists.
The admonition came from leaders of three Niger Delta-based non-governmental organizations namely: Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC) and the Ijaw People Development Initiative (IPDI) in separate exclusive chats with Sunday Tribune on Saturday in Warri, Delta State.
The leaders namely, Comrade Sheriff Mulade of CEPEJ, Comrade Alaowei Cleric of FHRACC, and Comrade Austin Ozobo of IPDI, spoke while reacting to the Friday verdict of a federal high court sitting in Lagos that properties, save one, of embattled Tompolo be confiscated for failing to honour court summons.
Comrade Mulade said the Federal Government, represented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), should be wary of throwing he region into another round of crises in the name of going after Tompolo.
He said since it was obvious that the government was hell-bent in humiliating and breaking the Gbaramatu chief, it should be reminded that “if you destroy Tompolo, many more Tompolos will arise.”
Noting that the court order did not come as a surprise to the Ijaws, “we are, however, skeptical in the Gbaramatu kingdom why EFCC and the courts are after Tompolo as a person. It connotes a lot to us as Ijaws. The claims of the court is that there are illegal transactions. But they should follow due process while they go after Tompolo.”
Mulade conjectured that the real reason Tompolo is being persecuted is based on some fears being nursed by some political elites in the Niger Delta and beyond who believe that his towering influence in the region could jeopardize their political fortunes.
“Their fear is that Tompolo is becoming too powerful to some political elites in the Niger Delta. With his influence, it will be difficult for some of them to have full support of Niger Deltans to actualise their political dreams.
“But Nigerian politicians should be more afraid of corruption and it’s go sequences than Tompolo. Tompolo is not a warlord, he is a simple man, very approachable.
“He fought for the liberation of Niger Delta. Those persecuting him should have a rethink. He brought development to the Niger Delta and any development in any region is a development in Nigeria,” he disclosed.
According to Mulade, Tompolo is ready to appear in court as far it is devoid of humiliation and persecution, adding that the wanted former militant and Gbaramatu kingdom should not be perceived as confronting the Federal Government.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari on his success so far in his anti-corruption crusade, the peace and environment preacher warned Buhari not to allow the Niger Delta region boil again by following the rule of law in its prosecution business.
On his part, Comrade Ozobo expressed disappointment at the way the FG is going about prosecuting Tompolo, saying the recent seizure of his assets was and order taken too far.
“We are apprehensive and its is a total disappointment to seize his properties, it will only escalate the matter as the fragile peace in the region is being threatened.
“The order to confiscate Tompolo’s properties is ill-conceived. He has engaged the services of a lawyer to do the needful, noting that he would eventually appear in court. Nobody sees fire and jump into it.
“The order to seize his assets is barbaric, obnoxious and vindictive. It is also highly provocative and will be seen as declaration of war against the Ijaw people.
“We know Buhari is not happy with the Ijaws and some Deltans because of their roles in his election,” Ozobo stated.
Comrade Cleric described the seizure order as having exposed the EFCC’s plans to persecute Tompolo rather than prosecuting him.
“It’s now clear to us that the anti-corruption agency is only prosecuting political vendetta against Tompolo. There is no law empowering the EFCC to attach another person’s property. This is a backdoor approach sought by the Commission to force the judicial pendulum against its assailants without recourse to the due process of law.
“The Court, as the last hope of the common man, ought not to have granted such unpopular application which end product is calculated to perverse the cause of justice.
“We hold high esteem the Nigerian judicial system and it is our resolve that the judicial sanctity must always be honoured. However, we are forced to vent our anger on the Court for granting this baseless application which is not only lacking merit but also devoid of legal foundation. This is the height of judicial recklessness,” he submitted.
It will be recalled that Justice Ibrahim Buba of a federal high court in Lagos, had on Friday, granted the request of the EFCC to confiscate all, but one of the properties of Tompolo.
The EFCC had filed an ex perte motion urging the court to seize Tompolo assets as a result of Tompolo’s refusal to honour the court’s summon over allegation of diverting N46 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The court order exempted the Global West Vessel Spacialists Ltd also belonging to Tompolo.
Counsel to EFCC, Festus Keyamo, had told the court that all efforts by security agencies to arrest Tompolo, since his warrant of arrest was issued, have proved abortive, hence the application to the court for the confiscation of the accused’s properties according to constitutional provisions.
Meanwhile, security agencies, particularly members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) are still coming the creeks for possible arrest of miscreants who bombed oil and gas pipelines last month as well as the former warlord, Tompolo.
It will also be recalled that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has, during a visit to Ekiti State last week Friday, hinted his men were still on the trail of Tompolo and would declare him before Nigerians when he is eventually nabbed.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
