I will not wage war against FG – Tompolo

THE NATION

Tompolo

* Says he’ll appear in court when he’s ready

Under fire former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), seems to have backtracked in his face-off with the law, as he has now indicated his preparedness to appear before the court to answer to multibillion naira corruption fraud accusation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said “I will appear in court at the appropriate time.”

Tompolo, in a statement early Thursday morning, disclosed that his legal team is finalising moves towards his day in court.
A statement by Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo’s media aide, denied his involvement in the January 15 bombing of oil facilities in Warri.

He also denied reports credited to his erstwhile colleague and comrade in arms, Mr Africanus Ukpasia that he (Tompolo) is amassing tools to go to war with the Federal Government, stressing that he remained bounded by the terms of his 2009 amnesty deal.

Ukpasia, who has since fallen out with the former MEND leader, also alleged that Tompolo masterminded the wanton destruction of gas and crude pipelines in Warri area of Delta state.

Bebenimibo, however, maintained: “Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has consistently maintained that he has no hand in the recent bombing of oil pipelines in the creeks of Delta State.

“Let it be known to Nigerians and the entire World that, Tompolo will never wage a war against the Federal Government, as he has sworn in 2009 when he accepted the Presidential amnesty declared by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

“He has kept faith with Nigeria. He has promised to work with the present administration unconditionally, and he stands by that declaration.

“He was seriously troubled by the recent pipeline bombing incident, because he has provided security for these pipelines even when the government refused to pay him. And so, he could not have been the one to damage same pipelines.”

Speaking on allegation that he is acquiring speed boats for war, he 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.”

He recalled that before the bombing incident, he alerted the public that some aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Bayelsa and Delta States want to destroy National assets, especially oil pipelines in the Delta Niger as a result of the outcome of the 2015 governorship election of Bayelsa State, where the APC lost the election.