Alleged N34b Fraud: Tompolo Arraigned in Absentia

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Alleged N34b Fraud: Tompolo Arraigned in Absentia

By Correspondent

Former Niger Delta militant chief, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), was on Tuesday arraigned in absentia by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was docked before the court over an alleged N34 billion fraud. Arraigned alongside Tompolo are the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited and Kemi Engozu.Others are Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. The anti-graft agency, in a 40-count charge before the court, argued that Tompolo and others allegedly diverted N34 billion for personal use. The EFCC further insisted that the said sum accrued from the public-private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist said to be owned by Tompolo. According the anti-graft agency, the said offence is against Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. Specifically, count one reads, “That you, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) now at large, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, in 2012 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: Conversion of the sums of N601,516.13 and $1,766,428.62, property of NIMASA, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 15(3) of the same Act.” However, other defendants who attended the proceedings all pleaded not guilty to the counts. Justice Buba adjourned until May 23 to 26 for trial. Aside being arraigned in absentia yesterday, Tompolo will again be arraigned on another 22-count charge before the same judge who adjourned until April 18. This time, the former militant boss will be answering questions to charges of stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of about N22.7billion. In the charge, Tompolo will stand trial together with Akpobolokemi, whose four brothers ”“ Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement ”“ said to be at large, were said to have aided the suspects to commit the fraud. The EFCC is accusing them of converting various sums running into over N22.7billion stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014, and April 10, 2015.

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