BEVERLY HILLS, October 31, (THEWILL) – As mixed reactions continue to trail the alleged death threat from Niger Delta ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), on the life of Lagos-based human right lawyer, Festus Keyamo, who few days ago petitioned the Inspector General of Police, no response has so far come from the authorities concerned.
THEWILL also learnt that neither Tompolo nor any of his cronies has denied the allegations.
Keyamo had recently asked the Nigerian police chief to investigate allegation of death threat to his life after he wrote an open letter to the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who he claimed had entered into a deal with the former militant leader to substitute a candidate for the office of chairman in the just-concluded local council polls in Warri South West with another. Keyamo had taken his brief from Weyinmi Omadeli, who claimed he was substituted for Mr. George Ekpemupolo, a younger brother of the elsewhile militant leader who now enjoys much patronage from the government in power.
Meanwhile, barely 48 hours after, no official response has been made to the petition, sources said and Keyamo had alluded to the possibility of the petition not being attended to when he said; “I know the subject of this petition, Tompolo, is a favoured citizen of this government, and I am not. I know Tompolo is close to those in power at the moment, whereas I am an ordinary citizen.”
According to Keyamo, “I know Tompolo has money and influence (which are factors that are widely acknowledged to aid a suspect walk away with murder in Nigeria), but I have none of these. I know Tompolo has instrument to kill human beings, and I have none.
“In the circumstance, I am making this petition public so that when you refuse to attend to my complaint and outcry, the ordinary people of this country will, at least, know from where my death came and I will not join the long list of unresolved murders. My killer, should, at least be known”.
Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the death threat from groups in the Niger Delta region.
“We categorically and completely condemn any act of threat to, attempt to threaten and the execution of threat on any citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in general and Delta State in particular”, a group, Liberate-Delta People’s Movement, said.
A statement signed by the chairman, Publicity Committee (Nigeria) of the group, Peter Akpobasah, and obtained by THEWILL said; “We are not interested in the details of what transpired between the two; as that is purely a political matter. (We at LIBERATE DELTA PEOPLES MOVEMENT are non-partisan, but only concerned with good governance and accountability).
“However, we are disturbed that a fellow Nigerian could boastfully threaten to kill another Nigerian for any reasons whatsoever. Barrister Festus Keyamo is a lawyer and the legal profession does not restrict him from accepting legitimate jobs from clients who may approach him to handle cases for them.
“We are also not aware of any laws in the land that forbid any lawyer from accepting briefs from any persons or group of person as the case may be, so why should he be threatened in the course of discharging his legitimate professional duties?
“Everyone has the right to life. It therefore, becomes disturbing when a citizen’s life can be regarded as a used toilet paper that could be discarded at will, as the case here. We condemn this in totality. It is heinous, barbaric, primitive and generally unacceptable.
In the same vein, the group, Coalition of Urhobo Nation Youth Leaders and Stakeholders ( CUNYLS ), led by Comrade Rex Anighoro said in a statement; “While it is trite to hear from both sides of the ears on any issue and as such would give the benefit of the doubt to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), we wish to call for restraint and for maturity so as not to jeopardise the existing peace in Delta State, the friendship and brotherhood that exists between the Urhobo Nation and Ijaw Nation.
“While we at the Coalition of Urhobo Nation Youth Leaders and Stakeholders ( CUNYLS ) recognise the place and contributions of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo to the Niger Delta Struggle, it would be collosal deconstruction of history not to accord Festus Keyamo his pride of place in the Hall of Fame of Niger Deltans in the Self Determination struggle of the Niger Delta People.”
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