Corruption EFCC Arraigns Tompolo Today
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Laos has summoned former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) to appear before him today, January 14, 2016, to answer to a 40-count charge of unlawful conversion brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Buba also granted leave to the EFCC to serve Tompolo the summons and charge number FHC/L/553/2015 through substituted mean, by “affixing same on the conspicuous part of his known address situated at 1 Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension Warri, Dalton State”.
The judge issued the summons following an application filed by the EFCC through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedipo, alleging that they not been able to serve his with a copy of the charge.
The commission also informed the court that Tompolo has so far refused to honour several invitation extended to him for questioning.
It will be recalled that the anti-graft agency had in December 2015 charge Tompolo a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and eight others before the court for allegedly converting the sums of $108.7m and N2.1billion belonging to NIMASA to personal use.
Other accused persons are: Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu, and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. The suit, FHC/L/5539C/15, was filed on behalf of the EFCC by its prosecutor, Festus Keyamo. In 16 of the counts, the agency alleges that Ekpemupolo, Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Boloboere Property Estate, Kime Engozu, and Simon John Adomene, who is currently at large, conspired amongst themselves between 2012 and 2014 to commit the offence, knowing that the two sums of money were proceeds of stealing.
In counts 17-38 of the criminal charges, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu, and Destre Consult Ltd are alleged to have converted the sum of N106.8 million, the property of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, despite knowing that the sum was derived from official corruption.
In counts 39 and 40, the EFCC alleges that Captain Warredi Enisuoh converted the sum of N8 million, property of Global West Vessel Specialist, knowing that the money was derived from official corruption.
According to the EFCC the offences alleged to have been committed by the accused persons are contrary to, and punishable under, the Money Laundering Act of 2012.
It would be recalled that Akpolobokemi is currently facing two different charges of stealing and conversion of money running into billions of naira before the same court.
Akpobolokemi and nine others were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on December 3, 2015 on a 30 count charge of conspiracy, criminal conversion and laundering the sum of N3.1 billion.
The anti-graft agency claimed that the accused persons allegedly conspired among themselves to convert and launder the sums under the guise of providing security intelligence around the Maritime domain.
Also on December 4, 2015, the anti-graft agency also arraigned the form NIMASA DG and five others before JusticeBuba on a 22 count charge of stealing the sum of N2.5 billion.
Akpolobokemi and other accused persons have however, pleaded not guilty to the charge
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Laos has summoned former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) to appear before him today, January 14, 2016, to answer to a 40-count charge of unlawful conversion brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Buba also granted leave to the EFCC to serve Tompolo the summons and charge number FHC/L/553/2015 through substituted mean, by “affixing same on the conspicuous part of his known address situated at 1 Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension Warri, Dalton State”.
The judge issued the summons following an application filed by the EFCC through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedipo, alleging that they not been able to serve his with a copy of the charge.
The commission also informed the court that Tompolo has so far refused to honour several invitation extended to him for questioning.
It will be recalled that the anti-graft agency had in December 2015 charge Tompolo a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and eight others before the court for allegedly converting the sums of $108.7m and N2.1billion belonging to NIMASA to personal use.
Other accused persons are: Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu, and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. The suit, FHC/L/5539C/15, was filed on behalf of the EFCC by its prosecutor, Festus Keyamo. In 16 of the counts, the agency alleges that Ekpemupolo, Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Boloboere Property Estate, Kime Engozu, and Simon John Adomene, who is currently at large, conspired amongst themselves between 2012 and 2014 to commit the offence, knowing that the two sums of money were proceeds of stealing.
In counts 17-38 of the criminal charges, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu, and Destre Consult Ltd are alleged to have converted the sum of N106.8 million, the property of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, despite knowing that the sum was derived from official corruption.
In counts 39 and 40, the EFCC alleges that Captain Warredi Enisuoh converted the sum of N8 million, property of Global West Vessel Specialist, knowing that the money was derived from official corruption.
According to the EFCC the offences alleged to have been committed by the accused persons are contrary to, and punishable under, the Money Laundering Act of 2012.
It would be recalled that Akpolobokemi is currently facing two different charges of stealing and conversion of money running into billions of naira before the same court.
Akpobolokemi and nine others were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on December 3, 2015 on a 30 count charge of conspiracy, criminal conversion and laundering the sum of N3.1 billion.
The anti-graft agency claimed that the accused persons allegedly conspired among themselves to convert and launder the sums under the guise of providing security intelligence around the Maritime domain.
Also on December 4, 2015, the anti-graft agency also arraigned the form NIMASA DG and five others before JusticeBuba on a 22 count charge of stealing the sum of N2.5 billion.
Akpolobokemi and other accused persons have however, pleaded not guilty to the charge
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