Nigerians on social media are calling for the immediate arrest of Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, over a viral video showing an apparent act of naira abuse during his 54th birthday celebration.
Tompolo, a former Niger Delta militant leader and community figure, is seen in the widely circulated clip dancing as a man showers him with bundles of ₦1,000 notes — a practice deemed illegal under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.
The video, reportedly recorded in April 2025, resurfaced on Sunday after a user identified as Harrison posted it on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: “EFCC, see Tompolo and the Naira o.”
Critics wasted no time comparing the EFCC’s previous swift actions against celebrities like Bobrisky, E-Money, and Iyabo Ojo, who were arrested or invited for similar offences. They accused the anti-graft agency of selective justice and bias towards influential figures.
“Once it’s their Oga or his friends, EFCC becomes blind. Same with the Okoya sons who sprayed naira in January — nothing has happened since,” wrote X user #NejeebBello.
In contrast, others argue that Tompolo never directly engaged in the act and was merely being sprayed, not the one spraying — a nuance they believe weakens the calls for prosecution.
Still, the backlash continues to trend online, with citizens daring the EFCC to prove its impartiality by holding Tompolo accountable like others.
Despite the growing pressure, the EFCC has yet to issue a public statement on the video as of press time. The silence has only amplified skepticism about the commission’s commitment to equal enforcement of financial laws.
The CBN Act of 2007 (as amended) clearly prohibits spraying, dancing on, or mutilating naira notes at social events, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, or both.
As Nigerians await the EFCC’s next move, the conversation has reignited concerns over institutional credibility, rule of law, and whether some individuals remain untouchable under Nigeria’s justice system.
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