N34bn fraud: Tompolo asks court to vacate arrest warrant

An ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has asked with Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him.

Justice Buba had on January 14 issued a bench warrant against Tompolo and ordered his arrest for failing to honour a court summons dated January 12 in respect of a 40-count of alleged N34bn fraud levelled against him and nine others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

On January 14, while all his co-accused persons were in court with their lawyers, Tompolo was absent and was not represented by any lawyer.

The EFCC prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, had then applied under Section 131 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 for an order to arrest Tompolo and bring him to court to answer the charges against him.

While granting the order, Justice Buba had said there was a proof that the EFCC had served the summons and the charge sheet on Tompolo by pasting them on the wall of his residence at No. 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State.

The judge ordered that Tompolo should be arrested and produced in court on February 8 to answer the charges.

But Tompolo has filed an application through his lawyers, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, seeking an order of the court to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him, on the claim that the EFCC did not serve him with the summons and the charge sheet.

In the application, Tompolo described as fictitious the address known as No.1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extention, Warri, Delta State, where the EFCC said it pasted the summons and the charge sheet.
“In the history or geography of Warri or its environs no such street name is known,” Tompolo claimed.

His lawyers also argued that the application filed by the EFCC to obtain the order for substituted service was incompetent because it did not bear the seal of the legal practitioner who signed it.

In an affidavit filed in support of the application, one, Nsikan Udo, who was the deponent, claimed that Tompolo’s resided at No. 13 Chief Agbamu Close, DDPA Extension, Warri (Effurun), Delta State and not No. 1, Chief Agbamu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State where the summons and the charge sheet were pasted by the EFCC.

The deponent claimed that as of January 11 when the EFCC went to paste the court papers, Tompolo was at “a premises known as No. 1 Chief Agbamu Lane DDPA Extension, Warri (Effurun), Delta State throughout the week beginning from 11th January 2016.”

“The gate of the premises known as No. 1 Chief Agbamu Close, DDPA Extension, Warri (Effurun), Delta is black in colour and is not perforated nor does it have a see-through, reddish/brown gate with iron bars shown in Exhibit GE4,” Udo claimed.

Tompolo is therefore seeking, among others, “an order setting aside the warrant for the arrest of the 1st accused person/applicant (Government  Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo) issued by this court on 14th January 2016 pursuant to the purported service of the summons and the criminal charge instituted in this case on the applicant.”

Adegboruwa, in a statement, however, said his client was prepared to willingly come to court to answer any charges preferred against him.

He also said the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and the Navy had been notified of Tompolo’s application, “so that overzealous persons do not take advantage of the court process to attempt to trample on his legal rights.”

In the charge against Tompolo and others, the EFCC accused them of conspiring to divert various sums running into over N34bn, stolen from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to their personal use.

Charged alongside Tompolo is the immediate past Director General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi; one Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Capt. Warredi Enisuoh.

They were charged along with four companies – Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electrical Limited, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited and Destre Consult Limited.

The EFCC said they acted contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and were liable to punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

Amnesty International condemns Buhari

– Buhari reinstates ex-GOC
– Amnesty bashes Buhari over Army General accused of war crimes
– Those responsible for crimes against humanity must be held to account, no matter their rank or position

President Muhammadu Buhari

Amnesty International has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari over the reinstatement of Major General Ahmadu Mohammed accused of the mass murder of hundreds of detainees.

Buhari has on January directed the Nigerian army to immediately recall Muhammed, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC)  of the 7th Division of the army, Maiduguri, Borno state whose official vehicle was  set ablaze by the soldiers.

The troops revolted because they said a dozen colleagues killed by Boko Haram in a night ambush on the road from Chibok had been unnecessarily sent into danger.

Amnesty International has said that President Buhari makes “mockery of commitments to end war crimes” and “underlines the monumental failure of the government to stamp out impunity for war crimes at the highest level.”

The statement reads in part: “Last June, Amnesty International named Major General Ahmadu Mohammed, along with eight other senior commanders, calling for an investigation into their possible criminal responsibility for war crimes including the deaths of more than 8,000 of detainees.
“Major General Ahmadu, was in charge of 7 Division and was in command of operations when the military executed more than 640 detainees following a Boko Haram attack on the detention centre in Giwa barracks on 14 March 2014. He was retired in 2014 for unrelated reasons, but reinstated this month. An in depth report exposed a range of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by the military in the course of operations against Boko Haram. It found that, since March 2011, more than 7,000 were starved, suffocated, and tortured to death in military detention camps. A further 1,200 were rounded up and unlawfully killed. 

“Major General Mohammed must be investigated for participating in, sanctioning or failing to prevent the deaths of hundreds of people,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

“Young men and boys, rounded up by the military, were either shot, starved, suffocated or tortured to death and no one has yet been held to account. It is unthinkable that Major General Muhammed could resume command of troops before an investigation has even begun.”

“The report, Stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands: War crimes committed by the Nigerian military, was based on years of research and analysis of evidence – including leaked military reports and correspondence, as well as interviews with more than 400 victims, eyewitnesses and senior members of the Nigerian security forces. It exposed a range of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by the military in the course of operations against Boko Haram. It found that, since March 2011, more than 7,000 were starved, suffocated, and tortured to death in military detention camps. A further 1,200 were rounded up and unlawfully killed. 

“It named nine senior Nigerian military figures along the chain of command who should be investigated for potential command and individual responsibility for the crimes committed. Hours after the publication of the report on 3 June, President Buhari responded personally on Twitter to say: “I assure you that your report will be looked into…This administration will leave no stone unturned to promote the rule of law, and deal with all cases of human rights abuses.” 

“Likewise the president announced on 12 June 2015 that investigating criminal responsibility for the violations documented in Amnesty International’s report would be the first task of the Attorney General. This investigation is yet to begin. Since the publication of the report, four of the named military commanders have retired. Two others had already retired prior to the publication of the report. The current status of two Brigadier Generals is unknown. Major General Mohammed was removed from his post on 16 May 2014 two days after a reported mutiny by his own men. News of his reinstatement reached Amnesty International on 17 January. 

“Seven months after the publication of these horrific discoveries and the president’s pledge that they will be looked into, we continue to call for urgent independent investigations to begin,” said Salil Shetty. 

“Those responsible for the crimes detailed in Amnesty International’s report must be held to account, no matter their rank or position. Only then can there be justice for the dead and their relatives.”

They are done with Olisah Metu

hey are done with Olisah Metu

They are done with Olisah Metuh

They have turned their attention to #Ekitigate

They want to start with Fayose lol all in

a bid to distract Nigerians from their clueless and incompetent government.
APC = Lies and propaganda
Nothing to offer Nigerians
From one propaganda to the other and their gullible supporters will be jubilating.

**Nduji Destiny

PATHETIC PICTURES OF A BABY KILLED BY BOKO HARAM ON SATURDAY

WARNING: viewers discretion is advised

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Tanzanian Authorities Conducting Manhunt For British Pilot Killed By Poachers

The Tanzanian authorities are currently conducting a manhunt for the poachers responsible for the death of a British pilot, according to media sources.
 
Helicopter Crash Site BBC 
 
The pilot, Roger Gower, was tracking the poachers on Friday in the  Maswa Game Reserve when his helicopter was fired upon from the ground, according to the natural resources minister, Jumanne Maghembe.
The mission was a joint effort by the Friedkin Conservation Fund and the Tanzanian government in response to what some have termed “industrialized poaching”.

"The government has launched a manhunt to find those responsible for this attack," Maghembe told reporters.

Dan Friedkin, the Chairman of the Friedkin Conservation Fund expressed his grief regarding the death of Mr. Gower.

"This tragic event again highlights the appalling risk and cost of protecting Tanzania's wildlife," Mr. Friedkin said in a statement.

Speaking to Reuters, Mr. Maghembe's deputy at the ministry, Ramo Makani, that five suspects had been arrested since Gower's death and that the operation is still underway for the remaining suspects.

African Union Scraps Peacekeeping Mission In Burundi

The African Union (AU) has scrapped its plan to send 5,000 peacekeepers to Burundi, according to media sources.
 
Scenes Of Violence In Burundi BBC Africa 
 
The central African country has been wracked by political violence since April when PResident Pierre Nkurunziza decided to seek a controversial third term.

Thus far, the violence has left 439 people dead and 240,000 have fled the country.

APC condemns recent transfer of Father Mbaka

– APC condemns recent transfer of Father Mbaka
– Alleges President Buhari’s haters to be behind new development

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the transfer of Father Mbaka.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to reports that controversial cleric, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka has been transferred by the leadership of the Catholic Church in Enugu.

The Enugu Parish leadership had reportedly transferred the fire-brand cleric from Christ the King Parish in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of the state to Our Lady Parish, Emene, a suburb of the state and he had immediately cried out over the latest development.

Mbaka who is more prominent for his prophecies against the immediate past president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the now former parish for 20 years and is now required to work under a new priest at the Emene Parish.

But Vanguard reports that the spokesperson of the APC in the Southeast, Osita Okechukwu, has condemned the new move.

He said: “It was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God.”
While also expressing concern over Mbaka’s safety, the APC chieftain alleged that the transfer was influenced by outside forces, adding that worshippers may find it difficult to get to Emene for programmes of the Adoration Ministry.

“Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church, However we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka’s case suggests.

“Otherwise, future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.

“Our major concern is the security implications and the fate of his flocks who are mostly the downtrodden who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing.
“We frown at anything which will put Fr. Mbaka in harms way or deny his flocks healing.”
“As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled at Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections.

“Even the Church did not spare him, he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true. We are happy that Fr. Mbaka was vindicated.

“It must be pointed out that accusing fingers were pointed at the direction of some anti-Buhari elements like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that didn’t want to hear the name of Buhari – even though Ohanaeze denied the allegation, doubt still persists.

“For we are still at a loss why a senior priest will be demoted to an assistant parish priest.
“We repeat that we are in solidarity with Fr. Mbaka and our major concern is the security of Fr. Mbaka and the suffering of his flocks, mostly the poor who need his healing powers.

“We had thought that His Lordship Bishop Calistus Onaga could have retained him at the Adoration Ground, as the Bishop Emeritus Gbuji did because of security of his life and easy access by his flocks,” he was quoted to have said.