JUSTICE Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court Lagos, has authorised the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to seize some assets belonging to a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The judge authorised the EFCC to take possession of the concerned assets, pending when Tompolo would make himself available to answer the charged of N45.9billion fraud preferred against him and nine others.

The judge said if Tompolo failed to appear within three months of the order, the federal government may proceed to auction the said assets.

The assets of Tompolo, which the EFCC was authorised to seize are his house located at No. 1, Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension, Warri (Effurun), Delta State;  a boat, named MUHA-15; Tompolo Dockyard, Tompolo Yard, the Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River, and Tompolo House at Oporaza Town, opposite the Palace.

The judge said the EFCC may also seize any other assets it may later discover and verify to belong to Tompolo.

The judge, however, declined to authorise the EFCC to seize four companies, which the EFCC had listed in its application as parts of Tompolo’s assets, saying one person does not own a company.

Justice Buba noted that third parties had already appeared in court to oppose the seizure of the said companies.

The said companies are Mieka Dive Ltd.; Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd.; Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd.; and Muhaabix Global Services Ltd. – The Citizen

• May 12, 2017 @ 1:50 GMT