Why I Won’t Honour EFCC’s Invitation Now- Tompolo

A former Niger Delta militant
leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, has reacted to the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s plan to declare him wanted in
connection with an alleged fraudulent multi-billion naira contract. Tompolo
says the commission is only trying to avoid the law and playing ‘pranks’ by
saying they will declare him wanted if he does not honour their last
invitation. According to the former Niger Delta militant leader, they are
already in court and Tompolo wants it trashed right there. Read his FULL
STATEMENT below…

EFCC’s ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ME AND
THEIR RESORT TO SELF HELP

I, High Chief Government
Ekpemupolo wish to state that my attention has been drawn to a news story on
Channels Television of 10th December 2015. The impression being conveyed is
that I was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and I
failed to honour the invitation or even respond by letter to the invitation. 

On the contrary, nothing could be
further from the truth. On the 24th of November 2015, I was informed at about
4pm that a letter of invitation had been dropped at my home in Warri, inviting
me to EFCC’s office in Lagos by 10am on the 25th of November 2015. Continue….

I responded by a letter from my
Solicitors, Messrs Jakpa, Edoge & Co. The letter dated 25th of November
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.

I was therefore not a little
surprised that the EFCC – an otherwise reputable institution – would stoop so
low as to lie to Nigerians.

As my Solicitor’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.

In fact, EFCC only invited me two
months AFTER I sued them. In my Solicitor’s letter I informed them that as soon
as the court decides one way or another, I would honour their invitation.

So the attempt to harass me by
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 is an
unnecessary and face saving effort at brinksmanship.

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 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 quarrelled 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. Afterall, 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, 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.

Thank you!

Signed

High Chief Government Ekpemupolo.