There is mild jubilation in the Niger Delta region over the reported relieve of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.) over tenure expiration and allegations of fraud and gross misconduct.
Ndiomu is also being probed over alleged petition by some Niger Delta Stakeholders seeking investigation into the N2.5billion empowerment fund.
Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.), according to sources, has since been replaced by the most qualified civil servant director to coordinate the affairs of the Amnesty office pending the official announcement this week.
Sources within the Presidency were quoted saying the directive for Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.) to step aside pending investigations into some alleged wrongful financial dealings and complaints as issued by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu while awaiting further directives from President Bola Tinubu this week.
It was also alleged that Ndiomu was relieved of his duties as Amnesty Boss since 12th September 2023, but it was kept a secret which allowed him to lobby politicians who include the Former Minister and governorship candidate of the APC in Bayelsa, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Some conditions were however handed Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.) before his plea for re-appointment can be met and they include the swearing to an affidavit blaming his initial rejection of the Bayelsa Deputy Governorship candidate, Joshua Maciver as being beneficiary of the Amnesty Programme on “technical errors.”
It was also revealed that the most qualified director overseeing the Amnesty Office has transferred most of the account staff allegedly fingered in some wrong financial dealings.
An official of the Presidential Amnesty Office, who pleaded anonimity, said while the Interim Administrator has not been reporting to the office, a new head has been giving directives around the Amnesty,” we are waiting for official confirmation”
However, a group comprising traditional rulers, elders, ex-militant leaders and youth groups from across the Niger Delta region has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for the reported relieve of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.).
The National Coordinator of the group, the Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND), Chief Ayibatekena Olodin, who addressed newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, applauded the President and the NSA for eventually taking the right steps in bringing back sanity and professionalism to the PAP office.
“Ndiomu must cease spreading falsehood against the National Security Adviser capable of tarnishing the NSA’s esteemed reputation, and he must desist from denigrating Nuhu Ribadu as a common Police Officer that never experienced combat. We call on all security and antigraft agencies to commence investigations into his alleged multibillion naira financial atrocities at the Amnesty office.”
“In his alleged quest to defraud the Amnesty Programme, believing that the incoming President Tinubu’s administration will immediately remove him from office on or after 29th May 2023, he cunningly setup the Presidential Amnesty Cooperative Society Limited on Wednesday 24th May 2023 seeming to empower Niger Delta youths with an initial setup fund of ₦1.5billion and arrangements were made for a monthly deposit into the cooperative’s account of ₦500million within three (3) months totaling ₦3billion with Providus Bank; yet to date, only 500 Amnesty beneficiaries have been empowered with the sum of ₦1million each totaling ₦500million, with ₦2.5billion allegedly missing.”
“Therefore, we are calling on all security and antigraft agencies to invite the PAP Anchors of the Cooperative (PAPCOSOL) Mr. Zigha Ayibakuro and Major Akpos Marshall for questioning on the whereabout of the ₦2.5billion allegedly missing from the Cooperative’s account. The security agencies should place watch and Ndiomu on all travel restriction to ensure justice is achieved.
Chief Ayibatekena Olodin stated that “the Presidential Amnesty Programme is a national and economic security programme therefore, we urge President Tinubu and the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to look beyond party-lines and conduct proper search on the character and reputation of individuals prior to any appointment.”
“The President should consider appointing experienced hands and their relationship with ex-agitators in the region prior to appointing the next Amnesty Coordinator.
Also, it is important to note that aside from persons who oversaw the initial stages and set-up of the Amnesty Programme, and since 2011, only two (2) administrators (Dr. Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku and Col. Miland Dixon Dikio rtd.) took the Amnesty Programme to greater heights, and were able to set-aside their personal interests to work vigorously in training and empowering our people, and strived towards achieving the mandates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“However, in-light of the present development, we the traditional rulers, elders, ex-militant leaders and youth groups from the region are in total support of Nuhu Ribadu for allowing the most qualified civil servant director to spearhead the affairs of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), and we call on the NSA to direct that all previously uploaded fraudulent payments to the GIFMIS payment platform be immediately revised.”
“And that the Amnesty funds from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation be released to allow the Director to make genuine payments to beneficiaries of the Programme, including our suffering and stranded students across the country.”
Chief Olodin also alerted the Amnesty Directors and security personnel at the Amnesty complex to remain resilient and ignore directives from the former Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.).
