N’Delta Group Petitions EFCC, ICPC over Alleged Racketeering in Amnesty Programme

By Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Stakeholders from the nine states of the Niger Delta  yesterday petitioned  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over alleged swapping of names of beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The group listed some names and numbers  of original beneficiaries  of scholarships in several universities in the country, accusing the education desk of the programme of removing the names and replacing them with those of their relatives.

Coming under the aegis of Serving and Leading Without Bitterness lnitiative (SLWBI), the group members drawn from all oil producing parts of the Niger Delta, argued that despite the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), who heads the office, those at the education department were sabotaging the programme.

According to the petition signed by Nature Keighe, Paulinus Albany and Teke Iyala,  aside the swapping of names, much of the funds earmarked for the programme was also diverted.
“The fragile peace being enjoyed in the region is due to the fulfillment of the promises made by Buhari and the doggedness of Boroh who is using the scarce resources to execute training, post-training and educational advancement of since the administration started funding the programme.
“But when some persons at the helms of authority start playing to the gallery for immediate gains, it may scuttle the  good works of President Buhari and plunge the region into another round of pandemonium if immediate  steps are not taken”, the group maintained.

While insisting that the desk responsible for education  disregarded due process in the selection of candidates, it described what was happening as “an act of impunity that is capable of instigating crises in the region with some ex-militants being short-changed while their slots were “sold out to well to do citizens, family, friends and  partners. 

“We call on the EFCC to urgently intervene and investigate these atrocities committed by the Amnesty office’s education desk to restore harmony and build on the existing confidence built over the years,” it said.