The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced plans to investigate Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, following a viral video allegedly showing him engaging in naira abuse during his 54th birthday celebration in April 2025. The footage, which surfaced on social media on Sunday, May 11, depicts Tompolo dancing while a man sprays ₦1,000 notes around him, an act prohibited under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
The EFCC, responding to public outcry and accusations of selective enforcement, issued a statement on its official X handle on Monday, declaring, “Nobody is above the law. Tompolo will have questions to answer!” The commission’s move comes amid its intensified campaign against naira abuse, with recent actions against celebrities and public figures for similar offenses. Violators face a minimum of six months’ imprisonment, a fine of at least ₦50,000, or both, per the CBN Act.
The video, first shared by a user identified as Harrison A (@harreceipts) on X, sparked heated debate online. Many Nigerians challenged the EFCC to act impartially, citing past cases where high-profile individuals appeared to evade prosecution. Some expressed skepticism about the agency’s ability to pursue Tompolo, a prominent Niger Delta chieftain and head of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, given his influence and government contracts. Others, however, praised the EFCC’s commitment to upholding the law.
Tompolo, a former Niger Delta militant leader, has previously faced scrutiny, including a 2016 EFCC case involving an alleged ₦45.9 billion fraud. The current allegations add to his controversial public profile, with the EFCC emphasizing its non-discriminatory stance on enforcement.
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