Eight days after publicly declaring that ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, would be questioned for naira abuse, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has yet to act.
On May 12, the EFCC stated via its official handle: “Nobody is above the law. Tompolo will have questions to answer!” This followed the circulation of a viral video showing Tompolo dancing on ₦1,000 notes during his 54th birthday celebration in April. In the video, some individuals were seen spraying the naira at his feet, while he danced — both actions are criminal under Nigeria’s Central Bank Act.
Yet, despite the EFCC’s firm promise, no further action has been announced. The agency reportedly delivered an invitation letter to Tompolo but has remained tight-lipped since.
The prolonged silence has reignited public frustration on social media, with many accusing the EFCC of shielding high-profile figures from prosecution. Critics point to similar cases, such as that of Wahab and Raheem Okoya — sons of billionaire Razaq Okoya — who filmed themselves spraying naira notes but have faced no known legal consequences.
Under Section 21 of the CBN Act, it is a punishable offence to spray, dance on, or mutilate the naira. Tompolo’s actions in the video — both stamping on and being sprayed with naira notes — appear to breach this law.
Tompolo, a former Niger Delta warlord and now a high-ranking traditional and spiritual leader of the Ijaw people, holds considerable influence in the region. He also maintains a multimillion-dollar federal contract for securing oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.
With mounting questions about equal treatment under the law, the EFCC’s silence has only deepened suspicions about selective justice — especially as the agency has aggressively pursued less-connected Nigerians like celebrities Bobrisky, Iyabo Ojo, and E-Money over similar infractions.