AGF audit report not on current administration – Presidential Amnesty Programme

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has explained that the Auditor-General of the Federation’s audit report, which highlighted alleged infractions in managing funds, does not relate to the current administration of the agency.

The report noted that the Presidential Amnesty Programme had illegally withdrawn over N6 billion and paid tuition for students without records.

However, the PAP has stated that the audit findings and reports predate the appointment of the current Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.

The PAP’s clarification was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr Igoniko Oduma on Monday.

Otuaro was appointed in March 2024, while the audit findings were for alleged infractions that took place between 2020 and 2021, three years before his appointment.

Advertisement

The statement noted that since Otuaro assumed office, he has diligently followed all extant rules and regulations regarding financial transactions, implementing strict financial controls and oversight to ensure transparency and accountability.

The statement said, “We have become aware of a story published by Sahara Reporters with the headline, ‘How the Presidential Amnesty Programme illegally withdrew over N6 billion and paid tuition for students without records’. Similar stories were also published by other media organizations.

‘’The news stories were based on the Auditor-General of the Federation’s audit report, which noted alleged infractions in managing funds for the Presidential Amnesty Programme between 2020 and 2021.

‘’We’d like to clarify that the audit findings and reports have nothing to do with the current Administrator of the Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, as they predate his appointment as the head of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

‘’Dr Otuaro was appointed in March 2024, while the audit findings were for alleged infractions that took place between 2020 and 2021, clear three years before Otuaro’s appointment as the Amnesty boss.

‘’Since assuming office, Otuaro has diligently followed all extant rules and regulations regarding financial transactions at the PAP office, implementing strict financial controls and oversight to ensure transparency and accountability, and is committed to upholding the highest standards of financial management.

‘’As Administrator of the Programme, Otuaro has initiated a comprehensive review of the PAP’s operations, focusing on streamlining processes, enhancing transparency, and improving service delivery, all of which have yielded significant positive results.

‘’We appeal to our media friends to be circumspect in publishing reports such as the one referenced above, and ensure that they get the facts right, in order not to incite stakeholders against the management of the Programme, or disrupt the peace and stability of the Niger Delta region.”

The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established by the Federal Government as a response to agitation in the Niger Delta region.