“We are looking for Tompolo and my men are on his trail. We will arrest him anywhere we sight him,” Police Inspector General Solomon Arase told reporters in Ado Ekiti. Tompolo was slammed with a 40-count charge bordering on money laundering and fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ex-militant has refused to heed EFCC’s summons for interrogation. He also failed to appear before the court, prompting the warrant of arrest. He has since been declared wanted by the EFCC. Charged with Tompolo is the immediate past Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi. Arase, who was on a tour of the Ekiti State Police Command, also told reporters that the police were yet to receive the warrant of arrest in respect of the embattled chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Dr. Tope Aluko. Aluko had gone on television detailing how Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and top government officials of the Jonathan administration and military officers connived to rig the 2014 governorship election in the state in favour of Fayose. Infuriated by the allegations, the state government approached an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court to seek the arrest warrant after accusing Aluko for perjury. Aluko has since gone to court to vacate the warrant of arrest. Asked yesterday when the police would effect Aluko’s arrest as ordered by the magistrate’s court, Arase said: “I am yet to see any warrant of arrest from the court.” “We are a law-abiding agency. I am a professional and a lawyer. We know what to do in such a situation, but we are yet to receive any warrant of arrest.” At the interactive session with officers and men of the state command, Arase identified community policing as a necessary strategy to secure lives and property and ensure synergy with the people at the grassroots to prevent crime. The IGP said police housing estates are being built across the country to ensure that officers retire into their homes after serving their fatherland. He warned policemen to treat Nigerians with civility and avoid violating human rights. His words:”Nigerians are more intelligent now. If you infringe on their rights, they will go to court and unfortunately the IG will be the person to sue, even while he is not there. “We must learn how to respect the fundamental rights of the citizens. The reason why we normally punish you for extra-judicial offences is that as trained officers who carry arms, you owe the responsibility to protect lives and property and that was why you were trained”, he said. The state Commissioner of Police, Etop James, revealed that the command requires a total of 4,206 officers to make up for the shortfall in personnel, describing this as very inimical to their performances.]]>