The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared that ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, will be invited for questioning over a viral video showing alleged abuse of the Nigerian currency.
The video, which surfaced over the weekend, showed the former commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) celebrating his 54th birthday in grand style.
In the now-viral clip, Tompolo is seen dancing while a guest sprays bundles of N1,000 notes on him—an act prohibited under Nigeria’s anti-naira abuse laws.
The footage was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by a user identified as @harreceipts, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for the EFCC to take swift action.
“EFCC, see Tompolo and the Naira o,” the post read, tagging the Commission and reigniting debates on selective enforcement of the law.
As pressure mounted, the EFCC, in a post via its official X handle on Monday, broke its silence, stating emphatically: “Nobody is above the law. Tompolo will have questions to answer!”
The Commission’s terse but weighty response has fueled speculation that a formal investigation or summons may be imminent.
This is not the first time the EFCC has gone after high-profile individuals for naira abuse.
Celebrities including Bobrisky and Cubana Chief Priest were recently prosecuted for similar offences, as part of a broader clampdown on the public mishandling of the Nigerian currency.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and EFCC have reiterated on multiple occasions that spraying, defacing, or mishandling the naira is a criminal offence punishable under the CBN Act.
Tompolo, whose influence in the Niger Delta remains significant, has in recent years maintained a low political profile, largely due to his lucrative pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the Federal Government.
However, this latest development threatens to pull him back into the spotlight—this time, under scrutiny from law enforcement.
Stay with PUNCH for updates on this developing story.
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