A coalition of Niger Delta organisations has rejected allegations of financial misconduct against the leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), describing claims that funds meant for former agitants were diverted to finance political campaigns as unsubstantiated.
The organisations, comprising the Niger Delta Concerned Stakeholders for Accountable Security and Progress (NDCSASP) and the 21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta, specifically defended the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, and prominent Niger Delta leader, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
In a joint statement signed by their spokesperson, Enisuo Oruomoni, the groups dismissed allegations by an activist organisation identified as Eagle Watch that unpaid stipends allegedly owed to former militant generals had been diverted to fund door-to-door political campaigns.
They described the allegations as unverified propaganda allegedly intended to undermine the PAP leadership and destabilise ongoing peace-building efforts in the Niger Delta.
Addressing concerns over the disbursement of stipends, the coalition maintained that payments under the programme were made electronically to verified beneficiaries through accounts linked to their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).
According to the groups, Dr Otuaro does not personally collect or distribute beneficiaries’ stipends, insisting that the electronic payment system limits the possibility of administrative diversion.
They further argued that complaints about accumulated payment backlogs were largely connected to the current administration’s decision to discontinue payments to individuals whose records had not satisfied the programme’s verification requirements.
The coalition described the exercise as an effort to eliminate fraudulent entries and prevent payments to so-called ghost beneficiaries.
It also defended Tompolo, arguing that he neither holds an administrative position nor exercises financial signatory authority within the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The groups therefore described his inclusion in the allegations as an attempt to associate him with matters outside his official responsibilities.
The statement further expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the current PAP leadership, citing investments in postgraduate scholarships, maritime certifications, aviation training and vocational empowerment as evidence of the programme’s commitment to human capital development in the region.
The organisations also warned that allegations capable of generating distrust among stakeholders could undermine the fragile peace in the Niger Delta and distract attention from ongoing development initiatives, including major infrastructure projects.
They urged individuals with genuine complaints over unpaid stipends to approach the appropriate PAP authorities and comply with established BVN verification procedures rather than resorting to unsubstantiated accusations.
The coalition’s defence comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, particularly over its beneficiary verification procedures, stipend payments and distribution of opportunities across oil-producing communities.
On November 4, 2026, the PAP issued a statement defending its enforcement of the Federal Government’s BVN policy, saying the measure was designed to curb fraudulent claims and prevent the misuse of public funds. The programme also rejected allegations of blackmail against its Administrator and maintained that it would not abandon reforms intended to improve its operations.
In a separate development on November 5, the Afenifere Progressives called for a review of the programme, raising concerns about the representation of oil-producing communities in Ondo State and the equitable distribution of scholarships and other benefits. The group also indicated plans to petition relevant authorities over the issues.
Meanwhile, the PAP has continued to highlight its educational interventions. In September, it announced that another batch of 31 postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries had departed for the United Kingdom, bringing the number of offshore postgraduate scholars deployed by the programme in 2026 to 243 at the time.
The latest controversy underscores the continuing need for transparency, effective communication and accountability in the administration of the Amnesty Programme, which remains an important component of the Federal Government’s peace-building and post-conflict rehabilitation efforts in the Niger Delta.
While the coalition has dismissed the allegations against Otuaro and Tompolo, the claims of stipend diversion have not been independently established. Equally, the concerns of beneficiaries over payment delays and verification requirements require clear responses from the programme’s management.
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