Nigeria\u2019s anti-graft agency on Friday slapped fresh corruption charges on<\/p>\n
a former Niger Delta militant leader who has ignored court summons to
\ndefend himself.<\/p>\n
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Government
\nEkpemupolo, popularly known as \u201cTompolo\u201d, was wanted over the illegal
\ndiversion of 11.9 billion naira ($60 million) belonging to the Nigerian
\nMaritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).<\/p>\n
He has previously been charged with laundering $175 million but has
\nrefused to appear in court.<\/p>\n
Last week, judge Ibrahim Buba of the federal high court in Lagos issued a
\nfresh order for his arrest and arraignment on February 19.<\/p>\n
Ekpemupolo, 47, was one of the high-profile leaders of the Movement for
\nthe Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) blamed for the series of
\nattacks on oil and gas facilities in the 2000s.<\/p>\n
The Niger Delta unrest disrupted Nigeria\u2019s oil exports, sending shock
\nwaves into the global oil market, until a 2009 amnesty placated the
\nrebels.<\/p>\n
Some, including Ekpemupolo, went on to be awarded lucrative government
\nsecurity contracts to protect the oil and gas facilities they once
\nattacked.<\/p>\n
But it is alleged such agreements were often used as a front to steal money.<\/p>\n
Ekpemupolo\u2019s supporters are believed to be behind several attacks on oil
\npipelines in recent months, prompting fears of fresh unrest in the
\nvolatile region if he was arrested.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has said the
\nPolice is currently on the trail of Tompolo. He said the former Militant
\nwould be arrested anywhere he is seen by the police.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a tour of the Ekiti Command on Friday, Arase said: \u201cWe
\nare looking for Tompolo and my men are on his trail. We will arrest him
\nanywhere we sight him\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nigeria\u2019s anti-graft agency on Friday slapped fresh corruption charges on a former Niger Delta militant leader who has ignored court summons to defend himself. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n