Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has alleged that influential individuals involved in oil theft are displeased with him for exposing their illegal activities.
Tompolo made these claims in Oporoza, the headquarters of the Gbaramatu Kingdom, during a visit by members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He also revealed that his life has been under constant threat.
According to him, naval personnel recently attacked operatives of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a private security outfit contracted by the federal government to safeguard oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
The attack reportedly occurred during an operation to arrest suspected oil thieves along the Port Harcourt Creeks.
During a working visit by the NBA’s national executive team, led by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), Tompolo emphasized the need for better collaboration between the navy and other security agencies to enhance the fight against oil theft.
He said, “While doing this work, we have stepped on a lot of toes of people over there in Lagos and Abuja. We have stepped on a lot of toes. As I am here, after my court cases, I cannot travel anywhere because of me and the key people (barons) fighting this battle.
“if I want to travel to Abuja to visit you, I must go with security. Even with two or three security personnel, none of them are happy with me, and they are now collaborating with top players involved in oil theft.
“Most times, you see that Tantita Security now has confrontations with the navy and every well-meaning Nigerian knows the function of the Nigerian Navy and Tantita, but nobody wants to come out to face the truth.
“if we happen to arrest anybody now, we would get a lawyer from Abuja, Lagos or Ibadan to do the case very well.”
Tompolo expressed worry that efforts to checkmate crude oil theft were being sabotaged in some quarters.
“some few days back, our people intercepted a vessel in Port Harcourt, where the Nigerian Navy was shooting at Tantita security, with police, department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“We want to implore and beg you (NBA). You must play in this present situation, because if we are not careful in this country, maybe we will not have money to do any reasonable thing.
“All of us here know that Nigeria is facing hardship. A bag of rice is over n100,000.
“We are going to do our part locally. But you (NBA) are there at the top. If we make arrests today, lawyers would stand on the other side and this side.
Meanwhile, the President of the NBA, Afam Osigwe says the group is taking a strong stance against oil theft in Nigeria.
He emphasised the need for lawyers to take an active role in prosecuting cases of crude oil theft for those responsible to face justice.
The NBA president together with members of the National Executive Council commended Tantita Security Services for its surveillance work which has resulted in the increase of oil production to 1.8m barrels per day.
According to the president, “If the oil production keeps going up, it will benefit all of us and the government will be able to provide for the needs of the people,” he stated.
“The fight against oil theft is more desirable now, more than ever before, because Nigeria is borrowing so much to fund its budget and cannot meet the needs of Nigerians.”
While lamenting over continuous borrowing by the federal government to fund the budget, the NBA president maintained that “if the leakages in oil production are well blocked, it will go a long way in boosting the country’s earnings.”
The NBA team also noted with concern that oil exploration activities in the niger delta had adversely impacted the region “as manifested in the environmental pollution and degradation of most of the host communities.”
On this, the NBA president said, “We resolved to make an on-the-scene assessment of the oil-bearing communities to see the hardship they are suffering.
“the NBA is interested in the issues of oil theft coupled with the effects of environmental pollution and environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration on the host communities.
“The irony is that these communities that bear the responsibilities of the nation’s oil wealth do not enjoy the wealth as most of the cities in the country.”