Former General Officer Commanding, Movement for the Emanicipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpumupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, yesterday, said he will appear before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which issued a bench warrant for his arrest, January 14, but his appearance will be “at the appropriate time.”
The bench warrant came after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed different charges against Tompolo, over allegation of diverting N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to personal use and laundering of N22.6 billion.
“Tompolo has no reason to bomb pipelines because of the EFCC case. He knows he is innocent. As he has stated on several occasions, he will appear in court at the appropriate time as his lawyers are working towards that,” he said through his Media Adviser and Consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo.
“The truth of the matter is that Tompolo does not know anything about the N34 billion EFCC is talking about. First, it was N13 billion, now it is N34 billion. He is not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said N34 billion case. So he does not know where this one is coming from.”
Reacting to the allegation by another ex-militant leader, Africanus Ukparasia, alias “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 wanted to destroy national assets in the Niger Delta and finger him because of the outcome of the Bayelsa State governorship election.
“True to his fears, these 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 from themselves.
“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 Messrs Ocean Marine Solution was 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,” he said.
