Tompolo lied, FG didn’t approve N13bn – Chief Johnny

A  leader from Okerenkoko community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny, yesterday, said the Federal Executive Council, FEC, never sat and approved    N13 billion for the acquisition of a temporary site for the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, as claimed by ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The Okerenkoko leader said, “It is a rip-off, Tompolo came to Okerenkoko community at the time and

informed the people that some houses in the community would be used as temporary site of the university, while work would be going on the permanent site, he never told them about another temporary site at Kurutie.”Chief Johnny, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on phone said, “Tompolo is lying, there is no such approval. If there is, I demand that the minutes of such meeting by FEC be published because I have made inquiry and there is nothing like that.”

“It was on the occasion that he promised equity in the execution of the project and that indigenous contractors would be recognized, but out of about 22 contractors that we saw, there was none from Okerenkoko. That was when I carried out a protest against him. They arrested and locked me and other leaders at the Federal Prisons, Okere, Warri, for two months and six days for daring Tompolo.

“Traditional rulers from Ijaw land intervened in the matter before I regained freedom.    Tompolo told them it was the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and NIMASA, not him, that ordered my arrest and detention.    I spent not less than N32 million to secure the release of myself and others that were illegally arrested and detained,” he said.

Chief Johnny asserted, “as far as the N13 billion deal is concerned, Tompolo has many questions to answer. It is not even this matter only; there are other matters.  He should report to the EFCC to explain himself.”

He added, “they lied to Okerenkoko community that only N3 billion was approved for and brought only N450 million to the host community. They claimed that N1 billion was shared to FEC and another N1 billion to NIMASA and other facilitators of the project, while remainder went to other communities in Gbaramatu kingdom.”

“Those people who say they are Okerenkoko leaders kicking against the call to probe Tompolo are his puppets, his investigation by EFCC does not affect Gbaramatu kingdom, not to talk of Ijaw nation, it is his personal matter and he should face it,’’ he said.

Chief Johnny said he was not against the NMU project at Okerenkoko and called on the Minister of Transport, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, who recently suspended construction work on the project to rescind his order, as the people should not suffer for what they know nothing about.