Militants Give President Buhari Ultimatum To Unfreeze Tompolo’s Assets, Else…

Militants have told President Muhammadu Buhari to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the assets of Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The militants, under the aegis of the 21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC) on Sunday in a statement by its Coordinator, ‘General’ Izon Ebi’ called for the President’s intervention.

According to them, if the properties and bank accounts of Tompolo are not released to him by the EFCC within thirty days, they will mobilize youths from the Niger-Delta region and occupy the properties.

They added that Tompolo’s efforts was responsible for the peace prevalent in the region at the moment and refusal by the EFCC to releasse his assets may lead to another round of unrest in the region which will affect the country’s oil facilities and installations.

The militants argued that some powerful persons are bent on disobeying court orders which had ordered the release of asssets belonging to the former militant leader.

The statement by the 21st CYNDAC said: “We are therefore calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly intervene to show that he means well for the Niger Delta and its people as promised in the just concluded roundtable discussion between governors from the region, traditional rulers and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to douse tensions and reassure Niger Deltans that without peace there will be no meaningful development.

“After 30 days of this appeal, we shall have no choice but to mobilise youths and women to occupy Tompolo’s properties to enable the workers that are out of jobs as a result of the seal off of his properties to resume work immediately for them to be able to fend for their families.

“The peace in the creeks of the Niger Delta can be greatly attributed to Tompolo’s efforts and commitment to maintain peace. Therefore, the onus lies on the Federal Government to do the needful.”

Naija News earlier reported that Tompolo back in October 2020, made his first public appearance after hiding for about six years.

The emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 had seen Tompoli go into hiding.

The Federal Government had deployed troops to fish him out, hence the need for him to hide.

The government also declared him wanted through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for ignoring two bench warrants issued against him by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos following an alleged N45.5bn fraud case.

The court, however, on July 15, 2019, dismissed all the charges against Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, a company linked to the former Niger Delta militant leader.

Tompoli still went into hiding despite the ruling of the court until October 19, 2020, when sources said he made a sudden appearance at the Egbesu Shrine in his Oporoza country home in Gbaramatu, Delta State.

It was reported that the former militant and his friends were spotted dancing, worshipping, and offering Thanksgiving to Egbesu, Ijaw god.