#Nigeria > Freezing Of Tompolo’s Accounts: President Buhari Is Declaring War Against The Niger Delta

Ijaw People Development Initiative (IPDI), a non-governmental organization in Delta State has criticized the freezing of accounts of two companies allegedly owned by ex-Niger militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The group said the move was an act of lawlessness.

According to a statement by the national president, TuesdayMr. Austin Ozobo, the federal government duly awarded contracts to the companies and Tompolo neither breached the contracts nor abandoned them to warrant freezing of the accounts.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly froze the accounts of Mieka Divers Limited and Global West Vessels Limited, for allegedly involving in fraudulent activity in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA, under its ex-director general, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.

“The freezing of Tompolo’s accounts by the federal government is barbaric, unlawful and obnoxious because Tompolo is not under any investigation. As a matter of fact, Tompolo is not under any investigation; therefore, there is no reason for his accounts to be frozen,” the group said.

“Tompolo was just a contractor and the said contracts are ongoing, there was no case of abandonment of the said contracts. The contracts were legally awarded, there was no case of breach, the point is that Buhari should have respect for the law, he should maintain decorum,” it added.

“What is within the purview of the law is either execution or revocation of the contract and not freezing of the contractor’s account. Even in the case of contravention, the contractor has nothing to answer, except the institution that awarded the contract, what Buhari is doing is a witch hunt and declaration of war against the Niger-Delta people.”