Posted on: 08:22 Fri, 12 Feb 2016



The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon
Arase, has hinted that the force has step up
efforts at bringing the most wanted and Niger
Delta Militant leader, Mr Government
Ekpemupolo, (alias Tompolo,) to justice over
allegation of fraud.

Addressing journalists shortly after a visit to
Ekiti Command, the Police said: “We are
looking for Tompolo and my men are on his
trail. We will arrest him anywhere we sight him”
Arase also clear the air arrest warrant placed
on embattled secretary of the Peoples
Democratic Party in Ekiti, Dr Tope Aluko, saying
the Police is yet to be served.

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.

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.