FORMER General Officer Commanding, GOC,
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Government Ekpumupolo,
alias Tompolo, made a volte face, Thursday, saying he would appear before the
Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which issued a bench warrant for his
arrest, January 14, but “at the appropriate time.”
The bench warrant followed an
application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which had
filed different charges against Tompolo, including diversion of N34 billion
belonging to the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA to personal use
and laundering of N22.6 billion.
Tompolo, who spoke through his Media
Adviser and Consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo also said he would never commence
war against the Federal Government having accepted amnesty in 2009, reiterating
that he was not party to the recent three-day bombing of crude oil and gas
pipelines in Delta state.
“Tompolo has no reason to bomb pipelines
because of EFCC case, he knows he is innocent. As he has stated in several
occasions, he will appear in court at the appropriate time as his lawyers are
working towards that,” he said.
Before now, Tompolo had said, “The truth
of the matter is that I do not know anything about the N34 billion naira EFCC
is talking about, first, it was 13 billion issue, now it is 34 billion. I am
not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said 34 billion case.
So I do not know where this one is coming from.”
Reacting to the allegation by another
ex-militant leader, Africanus Ukparasia, aliast “General” Africa that he bombed
pipelines, Tompolo said he alerted the public that some aggrieved All
Progressives Congress, APC, members in Bayesla and Delta states want to destroy
national assestsin the Niger Delta state and finger him because of the outcome
of the Bayelsa governorship election.
According to the statement, “And true to
his fears, these set of APC chieftains that joined the party immediately after
the presidential election of 2015 were the first people to accuse him of
bombing the pipelines to divert public attention.”
On speed boats for war
Tompolo said “it is the biggest lie of the year, as the military is also aware of the boats and pick-up vans he purchased in 2011 for the surveillance of oil facilities as he was working hand in hand with the military then.
Tompolo said “it is the biggest lie of the year, as the military is also aware of the boats and pick-up vans he purchased in 2011 for the surveillance of oil facilities as he was working hand in hand with the military then.
“Tompolo is a man of peace and he is
poised for the development of the coastal Niger Delta region. He prays that this
matter be amicably resolved so that everyone will know that he always put his
people above his person gains.”
“And true to his fears, these set of APC
chieftains that joined the party immediately after the presidential election of
2015, were the first people to accuse him of bombing the pipelines to divert
public attention.
“These new APC members who the former
chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described as parasites, also
threatened to cause problem in the Niger Delta region if the pipeline surveillance
contract in Delta State already awarded to Messers Ocean Marine Solution is not
re-awarded to them.
This is a clear testimony of their
involvement in the bombing of the pipelines. Since then, we all have seen their
role in misleading the military and the general public.
“Now, it could be recalled that this
same Africanus Ukparasia threatened Tompolo not to show interest in the
elections, as he was a strong supporter of the APC candidate. He killed and
maimed fellow Ijaw people because of a governorship election, and now he is the
one accusing Tompolo of bombing pipelines.”
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