According to a reliable report, the Federal Government,
under former President Goodluck Jonathan, actually approved the payment
of N11 billion to ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias
Tompolo, out of which he collected 90 per cent of the money, but it was
not for land deal as claimed by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC. The reasons for the approval of the N11Bn land deal
was revealed by a reliable source yesterday.
It has been revealed that the money paid to Tompolo was for
purchase of the buildings and other facilities at the International
Diving School he built at Kurutie, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West
Local Government, Delta State, allegedly valued at N15 billion, which
the Federal Government acquired for the Maritime University,
Okerenkoko. The buildings include lecture halls, multi-purpose pavilion,
administrative block, vice chancellor’s lodge, lecturers’ lodge and
hostels for male and female students.
He said: “Tompolo has no problem with President Muhammadu
Buhari but some people are trying to use the EFCC against him. He
(Tompolo) met with President Buhari after his swearing in and assured
him that he accepted amnesty under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and
would work with his government. It was a very good meeting.”
The source added, “It is a known fact that he started building a
diving school in Warri South-West, Delta State some years ago, to
fulfil his vision of creating educational opportunity for youths
interested in the maritime sector and to meet the work force requirement
in the field. The buildings were completed.
“Last year, some officials of Delta State Government, I do not
want to mention names because everything is now politics, visited
Gbaramatu Kingdom and Tompolo took them round the diving school. It was
well reported by the media. So the diving school was there but yet to
commence. The officials who came commended him for his vision.
“However, when the Federal Government wanted to set up the
Maritime University at Okerenkoko, government officials found out that
he had built structures for a diving institute at Kurutie and felt that
government should acquire and use them for the take off of the
university.
“They approached Tompolo, I think it was NIMASA people that
raised the matter. He was not interested in jettisoning the project
because the diving school was a long-term dream for him, but because of
the way they spoke to him, insisting that it was also for the
development of the area, he accepted and invited estate valuers to value
the project, which was put at N15 billion.
“Officials from the Ministry of Lands later came to value the
projects and put the value at N13 billion, which is contained in the
letter to the Federal Executive Council to approve the purchase.
“Let me tell you, it was not Tompolo that wanted to sell the
buildings, it was government that indicated interest and informed him.
The transaction was never for land as the EFCC is claiming, but for the
buildings.
“The FEC met on the matter and the N13 billion came down to N11
billion after removing VAT and other things. So far, government has
paid him 90 per cent of the money. What is illegal in this and why is
the EFCC talking as if he was involved in a fraudulent deal? They should
check their facts well.
“They should go and find out what it takes to reclaim a swampy location and put structure on it.
“Tompolo did not really see anything that should trouble him in
the matter even when sometime in August, the EFCC froze his business
account. He indeed, took it as a joke but all the same, contacted some
top persons to find out what was wrong. They told him that he should not
worry, that it was political and he should wait for some time.
“He waited and when there was no result, he took the commission
to court in October to explain why it froze his account. EFCC refused
to come to court, but invited him on November 24 to appear before it on
November 25. He told them through his lawyer that he took them to court
and they should wait for the court to determine his case.
“The commission then came to court November 30 without filing
any paper and requested that the matter be adjourned to December 17,
same date that they wrote a reminder, dated December 9, report at the
commission, failing which they would declare him wanted.
“Tompolo still does not think that there is any big deal about
the matter because government underpaid him for the property bought from
him.
“He, however, got suspicious when the EFCC renewed its
aggression after he refused a request by a top government security
official to join the All Progressives Congress, APC and help its
candidate in Bayelsa State to win the governorship poll in the state.”
Source: Vanguard
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