One-time Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo (better known as Tompolo), has denied media reports that he failed to respond to an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement issued today, Mr. Ekpemupolo refuted a report on Channels Television that he did not respond to an invitation by the EFCC.

According to Tompolo, “On the November 24th 2015, I was informed at about 4 p.m. that a letter of invitation had been dropped at my home in Warri, inviting me to EFCC’s office in Lagos by 10 a.m. on the 25th of November 2015. I responded by a letter from my Solicitors, Messrs. Jakpa, Edoge & Co. The letter dated November 25th 2015 was received by one Uduak Ouot, a staff of EFCC, on the 3rd of December 2015, after several attempts to deliver. I have proof of delivery from the courier company.”

Mr. Ekpemupolo said he was surprised that the EFCC, which he described as “an otherwise reputable institution,” lied to Nigerians. He added that his lawyer’s letter “indicated I am already in court with the EFCC in Suit No: FHC/W/CS/152/2015. EFCC had been served with the court processes since 20th of October 2015 but they refused to attend court on several occasions, or to file any court papers, only to appear for the first time on 30th November 2015 without filing any court papers. They even asked for the matter to be adjourned to 17th December 2015, the date they are now inviting me to appear before them.”

He stated that the anti-corruption agency invited him two months after he had sued them. He said he had informed the EFCC of his readiness to honor their invitation once the court rules on his own suit, adding that the agency seemed bent on harassing him through their “reminder of 9th December 2015, which was leaked to the media on the 10th of December 2015, the same day as it was delivered to my house in Warri.”

Mr. Ekpemupolo stated, “As a full blooded Ijaw man and citizen of Nigeria, I have done everything in my power to follow the laws of Nigeria. Since the amnesty declared in 2009 by [the] late President Yar’Adua I have strained myself to ensure that we all live in peace in this country. Those who think they can push us to war must rethink the necessity of such a war.

“How can a law-abiding Government declare a man wanted who is in the law courts with them?

“They froze our business accounts since August 4th 2015, but we have not quarreled with anybody. We sued them to court, they refused to come to court. Now they are threatening to declare me wanted.

“I know why they are after me. It is not the alleged multi-billion naira property transaction. After all, it went through due process and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). And as such if there are any questions to answer, it is the people at the FEC, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Federal Ministry of Lands and Survey, Federal Ministry of Transport, NIMASA, etc who approved the transaction that should be answering such questions.

“The real reason this All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Government is after me is that I bluntly refused to join APC and to support their Governorship candidate in Bayelsa State. We cannot all be in APC. Our people have always believed in the Nigerian project and had always hoped to join hands with this administration to move this project forward, but the conditions being attached are not acceptable. I insist on believing in the Nigerian project unconditionally!

“We will continue to pursue our court case. The threat to declare me wanted is an unnecessary attempt to heat up the polity. I will go about my daily business, [as] usual.

Finally, let me say this: if people can come from Sokoto, Katsina or Lagos to campaign in Bayelsa, why can’t I, a full-blooded Ijaw man, go to my Bayelsa to campaign? I will only add this: let the will of the people of Bayelsa prevail. Nobody should attempt to force the outcome of the election. We have kept faith with our promise to Nigeria, we expect no less from this country. So if anyone tells you that Tompolo is on the run, tell him Tompolo is not going anywhere.”


SOURCE: http://saharareporters.com/2015/12/12/niger-delta-militant-tompolo-decries-efcc-invitation-accuses-apc-political-persecution

If he sued them, then they should trash that out first.

If this has anything to do with bayelsa, then its totally wrong. Sylva was rejected. Let the matter end there.

if he joins APC he becomes a saint.

“The real reason this All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Government is after me is that I bluntly refused to join APC and to support their Governorship candidate in Bayelsa State . We cannot all be in APC. Our people have always believed in the Nigerian project and had always hoped to join hands with this administration to move this project forward, but the conditions being attached are not acceptable. I insist on believing in the Nigerian project unconditionally!

Buhari and APC should thread softly cos another unrest in the Niger Delta will only bring disaster at this period when oil price is so low.

Nigeria cant afford that with BH, Biafra agitation and so much suffering in the land.

APC chai. I already knew those guyz are worse than PDP. Atleast there was no bloodshed during PDP reign.

This govt shud tread softly. That shikini money wey we dey get from there still relevant oo. We are mono economy , dont forget that Buhari. Unless u have somewhere else to foot that N6T budget.

U never fight Boko boys finish.

Shite guyz don dey vex small small.

IPOB never carry gun oo

Naim u wan join d full blooded Ijaw boy Ekpemukpolo Tompolo for your fight ? Bros u better behave ooo if u really want to finish yo tenor.

I suspected that his summon is political. Say no to #joinusorweprobeyou

People are getting wiser to this defence they always use of victimization, persecution and the rest.
So because u refused to join APC,u claim being persecuted.
It's alright, at least u didn't deny u sold government land back to govt.
Just hope for your sake the documents ain't fake and that the truthful land owners were well compensated.
By the way, a law court cannot stop the efcc from carrying out an investigation,that has been established,so go and answer your query, u can neither threaten nor blackmail anyone again.This is not gej govt.

theV0ice:
If he sued them, then they should trash that out first.

If this has anything to do with bayelsa, then its totally wrong. Sylva was rejected. Let the matter end there.

U are more enlightened than this to bliv this cheap blackmail from tompolo.What u shud ask is if what he is being invited to answer for is anyway related to the court case he has against efcc.

dockokwus:

U are more enlightened than this to bliv this cheap blackmail from tompolo.What u shud ask is if what he is being invited to answer for is anyway related to the court case he has against efcc.

It might be a blackmail but if its true that EFCC ignored a court summons on his suit since October, then its bad. Why didn't EFCC go there and thrash out the case? As far as I see, it wasn't a suit seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop an investigation or prosecution.

On the Bayelsa issue, I believe if PMB is the one to choose, he would never vote for Sylva but I can't say the same for the other APC big wigs starting from Tinubu.

Sylva is bad market and I'm happy he was rejected.

if anyone tells
you that Tompolo is on the run, tell him Tompolo is not going anywhere. Boss no mind dem

Buhari should know that he came to power through democratic processes, unlike 1983 when he came to power through coup. Buhari beware of Niger delta, beware of ex militants. When it happen, Amechi and Oyegun will not have any say

Buhari is facing heat from all parts of Nigeria.

theV0ice:


It might be a blackmail but if its true that EFCC ignored a court summons on his suit since October, then its bad. Why didn't EFCC go there and thrash out the case? As far as I see, it wasn't a suit seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop an investigation or prosecution.

On the Bayelsa issue, I believe if PMB is the one to choose, he would never vote for Sylva but I can't say the same for the other APC big wigs starting from Tinubu.

Sylva is bad market and I'm happy he was rejected.

Is there any link btw u suing an agency against blocking your account and u being invited to answer for an alleged land fraud/scam?
People trivialize serious issues in this country.What u should ask again is when tompolo inherited that vast expanse of land he sold,is he authorized even if he inherited it by other parties to sell and was it a proper price to pay by the govt?
It's easy to use the d current defence of persecution to distract from weighty allegations because that's the commonest excuse to win some sympathy from gullible followers these days.But enlightened people by their privilege of being enlightened must look beyond this cheap blackmail tactics and query the facts of the substantive allegations.
The only point that needs introspection and to which the PMB govt must be tasked is that apart from Saraki,who even seems to be getting some soft handling from the govt, why is it that it's only PDP members that are getting all these invite, afterall, some APC members even decamped after its victory and benefitted or participated actively in some of d scams now being revealed, so y do they now appear to either be saints or untouchables? This is d only aspect that is unacceptable,otherwise,every invitee must report and answer questions of their actions.

dockokwus:

Is there any link btw u suing an agency against blocking your account and u being invited to answer for an alleged land fraud/scam?
People trivialize serious issues in this country.What u should ask again is when tompolo inherited that vast expanse of land he sold,is he authorized even if he inherited it by other parties to sell and was it a proper price to pay by the govt?
It's easy to use the d current defence of persecution to distract from weighty allegations because that's the commonest excuse to win some sympathy from gullible followers these days.But enlightened people by their privilege of being enlightened must look beyond this cheap blackmail tactics and query the facts of the substantive allegations.
The only point that needs introspection and to which the PMB govt must be tasked is that apart from Saraki,who even seems to be getting some soft handling from the govt, why is it that it's only PDP members that are getting all these invite, afterall, some APC members even decamped after its victory and benefitted or participated actively in some of d scams now being revealed, so y do they now appear to either be saints or untouchables? This is d only aspect that is unacceptable,otherwise,every invitee must report and answer questions of their actions.

Are you OK with the EFCC ignoring the court summons?

When was Tompolo's suit filed and when was he invited by EFCC? If his suit came before the EFCC invitation as I believe it did, then EFCC being a law enforcement agency erred.

He wasn't at the court to challenge their right to question him. He went there cos his accounts were frozen. I support EFCC freezing the accounts but honouring the court summons won't kill them and I'm sure the judge would have agreed with them.

I'm not saying Tompolo is innocent or he shouldn't heed the EFCC invitation but I believe they should also learn to do things in a more orderly manner that reflects respect for the rule of law

dockokwus:
People are getting wiser to this defence they always use of victimization, persecution and the rest.
So because u refused to join APC,u claim being persecuted.
It's alright, at least u didn't deny u sold government land back to govt.
Just hope for your sake the documents ain't fake and that the truthful land owners were well compensated.
By the way, a law court cannot stop the efcc from carrying out an investigation,that has been established,so go and answer your query, u can neither threaten nor blackmail anyone again.This is not gej govt.

DO YOU HAVE PROBLEM WITH COMPREHENSION? HOW CAN YOU SUMMON HIM WHEN THE CASE IS IN THE COURT AND EFCC REFUSED TO HONOUR COURT SUMMON?

Didn't imagine Nairaland could be so peaceful until Rule 9 was modified.

And If we call this damnation a zoo, they will say we are trouble makers!


Well in the end, ....... Shall come!

Viewing this topic; Seun Mynd44 lalasticlacla Biafraland Supper Mod!

doublewisdom:
Buhari is facing heat from all parts of Nigeria.

He created the fire