The Niger Delta Integrity Group (NDIG) has faulted the threat by some beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), to occupy the Amnesty Office and demand the sack of the Interim Administrator of the programme, Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd).
NDIG in a statement by its convener, Dr. Boma Horsfall, noted that the plot is being hatched by two ex-agitators – Gen. Paul Johnson and Solomon Adu, whom it claimed has been feeding fat from the Amnesty programme by operating multiple accounts since 2010.
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“Let it be on record that Gen. Paul Johnson and Solomon Adu – the two sponsors of the recently publicized communique threatening protest, are fighting back because the new administration of the PAP has stopped their fraudulent practice of feeding fat from the Programme.
“While John has been criminally receiving monthly stipends with two separate accounts since 2010, Solomon has been doing the same with six accounts, all linked to one BVN for the same period,” NDIG noted.
The NDIG stressed that the duo are now frustrated by the reality that General Ndiomu is out to rid the system clean, and discontinue all fraudulent practices.
“The Amnesty Programme implies that after beneficiaries are absolved, trained and empowered, they are to exit and pave way for others. Sadly, they (Paul and Solomon) have refused to exit the Programme after 12 years.
“Deserving Niger Deltans who are highly industrious and are engaged in credible ventures, have never gained access to the huge sums of monies that have been stolen by these two. They must now bury their head in shame, as their malicious attempt to blackmail the highly revered Interim Administrator is already dead on arrival,” it added.
The group enjoined the Interim Administrator not to be deterred in his resolve to reposition the Amnesty Programme while urging Niger Deltans to disregard the naggings of criminal elements.
The PAP which was initiated to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate repentant militants from the Niger Delta, has been plagued with corruption allegations as most agitators have refused to exit the programme more than 12 years after it was launched by ex-president, Umaru Yar’adua.
