Group Protests Alleged Financial Impropriety By PAP’s Boss, Calls For His Suspension

The group, Niger Delta Liberators, and Ex-agitators Forum, (NDLEF), has taken a swipe at the Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, over what they called financial impropriety and illegal award of contract in which over N50 billion have been allegedly swindled and laundered.

The group which stated this during a peaceful protest walk at the National Assembly in Abuja, on Wednesday, called on President Tinubu to direct anti-graft agencies to scrutinize the financial activities of Otuaro-led Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Speaking during the protest, Odey Otunu, Convener of NDLEF, said the protest became necessary to consolidate on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed thrust for fiscal probity and governance accountability.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate on his renewed thrust for fiscal probity and governance accountability by compelling the all relevant anti-graft agencies to beam its searchlight on the horrendous financial activities” at the Presidential Amnesty Office.

Otunu said NDLEF had already petitioned the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau over alleged looting of the funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta regions, adding that they’re still awaiting responses from the agencies.

Addressing journalists at the protest Otunu said; “Upon his appointment by Mr. President, Dennis Otuaro has favored his former associates for contract awards to the exclusion of other qualified citizens.

“He has been using a company by the name Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited (RC 1253803, incorporated on April 8, 2015) which is owned by his friend and former co-worker (Engr. Michael Ifeanyi Anoka) to launder public funds even when the object of the company states that it is into the business of construction, it has been awarded a contract by Otuaro for consultancy. This clearly mandates the company to do what it lacks the legal capacity to do.

“Their fraudulent inclination dances naked in the market square to the effect that Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited is moribund. A simple searched on Corporate Affairs Commission revealed that the company is inactive and therefore does not qualify to bid for government contract. Yet this is the company that without any bidding process has received billions of Naira perpetually for organizing fictitious stakeholder meetings only.”

Speaking further he said; “The details of the monies sent by Dr. Dennis Otuaro and received by Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited are contained in our petitions already submitted to the Presidency, the EFCC and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

“Within these periods of receiving these monies, Dr. Dennis used the laundered public fund to instigate violence in the communities and silence any oppositions to his recalcitrant and uncanny behaviour.

“It is our allegation that from the totality of the circumstances surrounding Dr Dennis dealings with Engr. Michael Ifeanyi Anoka who is a serving Commissioner in the Delta State Government, under the guise of Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited, they have swindled and laundered public funds to the tune of over 50 billion as captured above.

“The looting is aggravated by the mere notion that nothing will happen to Dr. Dennis because he has vowed to use the stolen money to fight whoever stands in his way of looting spree. He has put his words to action by installing loyal community heads while creating division and bloodshed where the community leader opposes him; even the youth leaders are not spared from the community capture adventure of Dr. Dennis.

The group said, “in light of the foregoing, we respectfully implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to cause a thorough investigation into the complaints lodged against Dr. Otuaro Dennis and his protégés.

“We trust the Presidency to do the right thing and we believe, strongly, that the immediate suspension of Dr. Dennis would be appropriate in order to prevent destruction of evidence or tampering with investigation.

“While anticipating an expeditious consideration of our complaint in tandem with your avowed commitment to the discharge of your constitutional and statutory duties to restore hope to Nigeria state, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate on his renewed thrust for fiscal probity and governance accountability by compelling the all relevant anti-graft agencies to beam its searchlight on the horrendous financial activities”.