Ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo has warned Nigerian journalists against publishing malicious and defamatory materials about him or face legal action.
Tompolo stated that journalists were recklessly defaming him in a bid to make him look bad before the Itsekiri people and in order to sell their papers.
In a statement released through his media consultant, Paul Bebenimibo in Delta state, Tompolo said publications on Monday claiming that his boys shot sporadically at the $16 billion Export Processing Zone were false.
According to him, the article reportedly stated: “That boys loyal to
High chief Ekpemupolo allegedly shot at JAD Nigeria Ltd workers, who are carrying out a clearing job at the Itsekiri end of the EPZ (Export Processing Zone) site.”
Absolving his principal of any involvement in the reported act, Bebenimibo stated: “he (Tompolo) has nothing to do in the EPZ site as he has no contract or job to do in the EPZ site.
“This can be confirmed from the owners of the project.
“The only interest he has in the EPZ project is the protection of what rightly belongs to the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and that is Gbaramatu deep sea port, which land belongs to the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, and has been so designated by the Federal Government of Nigeria during the grand breaking ceremony on March 26, 2015.”
Furthermore, Tompolo described the practice of writing “false” news about him as “unprofessional” and “a wicked act”, while describing the reports on Monday as “simply mischievous, frivolous and sensational” and without substance.
He said that if the practice was not stopped, he would be forced to seek redress in the law court.