Nigerians have called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to arrest Government Ekpumupolo, also known as Tompolo, for naira abuse.
Tompolo is an activist and former militant leader from Delta State. There are calls for accountability following the circulation of a video clip showing him partaking in an act that constitutes naira abuse.
The clip also triggered renewed criticism of the EFCC over perceived selective law enforcement.
The clip was recorded in April during Tompolo’s 54th birthday, but it re-surfaced on Sunday morning when X user Harrison shared it with the caption: “EFCC see Tompolo and the Naira o.”
Tompolo, dressed in white and red attire, was captured dancing in the video while a man holding a bundle of N1,000 notes sprayed the Delta activist.
The practice of spraying naira notes into the air and onto individuals is considered illegal by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and punishable by law.
The EFCC often relies on Section 21 of the CBN Act to go after Nigerians who spray or deface currency notes. Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, got a six-month sentence in 2024 after an EFCC naira abuse case.
The commission also used Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange Act to go after Emeka Daniel, a socialite popularly known as E-Money, for alleged defacement of the dollar in April.
When Wahab and Raheem Okoya, sons of Razaq Okoya, Chairman of the Eleganza Group, were involved in a similar act in early 2025, it took social media pressure for the EFCC to ‘invite’ them.
However, the agency has remained mute since the invitation in January despite persistent calls for accountability. The Okoya sons were captured in a video throwing naira notes in the air as they danced to ‘Credit Alert’, a song by Raheem.
With the recent video clip of Tompolo, many social media users believe the EFCC will once again turn a blind eye just as it did in the case of the Okoya sons.
“Eagle eyes don blind,” Vivian Umukoro, an accountant, jokingly stated in pidgin.
“They will tell you that Tompolo is a good man. He is guiding the pipeline. The name Tompolo sounds like thunder on their ears,” wrote Stanley.
King. Imas. wrote: “Their Eagle eyes only looks at one direction.”
According to @jenslaw, “The eagle won’t be able to see it. The eagle’s vision is blurred to this kind of people.”
X user @Ugochukwu_96 also said, “EFCC no dey see these kind people them. He dey invisible.”
“Government dey arrest Government?” asked Lucky Ogiebo.
Uche Chukwu wrote: “It’s not this kind of naira that EFCC is concerned about.”
While Deji Teye said, “Dem no born EFCC well to touch Tompolo”, X user @Nwach said, “I talk am before, EFCC get list of persons wey dey above the law.”
