The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has said that his men are on the trail of the Niger Delta Militant leader, Mr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, over allegation of diversion of public funds.
Ekpemupolo has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged diversion of a sum of N45.9 billion in the execution of contracts .
A federal High Court in Lagos a couple of weeks ago issued a warrant of arrest against him, being an order sought by EFCC to get the accused person to face justice. Tompolo, who is facing 40-count charge , is being tried alongside the ex-Director General of Nigeria Maritime Safety Agency, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, in connection with the alleged diversion of a sum of N45.9 billion in the execution of contracts .
Speaking during a tour of the Ekiti Command on Friday, Arase said: “We are looking for Tompolo and my men are on his trail. We will arrest him anywhere we sight him”, he said.
Arase added that the police has not been served with the warrant of arrest issued against the embattled secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti , Dr Tope Aluko, saying necessary actions will be taken when they are served.
Arase, who commended his men for working hard to combat crime in Ekiti, warned against perpetration of extra-judicial killings, saying these have made the police to incur more litigations and consequently starved the them of funds.
About the welfare of his men, the IGP added that his administration will provide housing units in all the 36 commands and Abuja , for every rank and file to take ownership of a two-bedroom flat before retirement, while scholarship will be offered to officers to get degree certificates.
“I ‘ m complaining that I have no money to send you for training, why must we now incur more litigations? Because, when I am sued, the Police’s accounts will be garnisheed . “Nigerians are more intelligent now, if you infringe on their right, they will go to court and unfortunately the IG will be the person to sue even while he is not there.
“We must learn how to respect the fundamental rights of the citizens. The reason why we normally punish you during extra-judicial offence has been that as trained officers, who carry arms, you owe the responsibility to protect lives and property and that was why you were trained”, he said.
Arase urged the command to improve on its intelligence gathering through community policing, stating that this remains the best way to get credible information from the public and gain the people’s confidence to combat criminalities .
The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti Command, Mr Etop James, revealed that the command requires a total of 4,206 officers to make up for the shortfall in personnel, describing this as very inimical to their performances. The CP begged the IGP to order that no officer should be transferred out of Ekiti without immediate replacement.
