PAP: Niger-Delta Freedom Fighters Accuse Ndiomu of Fraud, Irregularities
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Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd)
by Our CorrespondentNiger Delta regional freedom fighters have accused the interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd), of fraud and irregularities in the Amnesty office, since his inception.
In a “Save Our Soul” letter signed by by Generals Paul Johnson and Solomon Adu, Chairmen, Phase 2, Bayelsa and Delta States and sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, and also made available to newsmen, the ex-agitators accused him and the Amnesty office of double standard, using fake camps to siphon monies meant for them.
The group comprising of the first, second and third phases of the PAP, said during a meeting sometime in December, 2022, they drew the attention of the interim administrator to issues of fake camps used by his cronies in the office to steal monies but according to the letter, “to our chagrin, nothing has been done about it.
They also said; “Ndiomu is using the issue of linking BVN as an excuse to deprive us of our stipends, are we bank accountants to be able to do all of these things. Many irregularities are perpetrated by the Amnesty office for their selfish interest, but we the Innocent beneficiaries suffer the negative effect of the fraud because we can talk for ourselves”
The letter reads in part “We the above named body, that comprises of the leadership of the First, Second and Third phases of the Coalition of the Niger-Delta Ex-agitators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“Sir, we urgently need your attention and audience to discuss and bring to the public notice matters bordering on National Security.
“Issues, if not quickly attended to, could degenerate to another crisis in the Niger-Delta region that will slow down National progress of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The very issue has been happening for over six months and all possible medium to meet with the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj. Gen Barry Tariye Ndiomu (retd) to resolve it has yielded no positive result.
“Sir, from inception of Ndiomu resumption of office as the Interim Administrator, going to over six months, more than seven thousand (7,000) Ex-agitator’s have stopped receiving their monthly stipends.
“Also, others still have unpaid arreas, since 2021 to date, solutions have not been provided on this regard.
“Students in the tertiary institution on the Presidential Amnesty scholarship Programme have stopped receiving the benefits accrued them and the payment of their tuition fees paused.
“Sir, we have tried all we could, to make sure these issues are resolved, but our efforts have not yielded the desired results.
“This has caused pains and discomfort to us and our immediate families, coupled with the prevailing economic situation of our country.
“Based on the above, we solicit that the Presidency come to our aide. We were on our own in the creeks of the Niger-Delta, when the federal government called upon us and initiated the Amnesty Programme.
“The Programme has been working, at least to some extent, there has been a relative peace in the Niger-Delta, devoid of protest or other related issues, not until the inception of Maj- Gen Barry Tariye Ndiomu.
“In his first month in assuming the Leadership as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, he delisted good numbers of Ex-agitators from the payment voucher.
“Pressure from the Niger-Delta in particular and all over Nigeria, made him to reinstate some of the names.
“Over 7,000 of the Ex-agitators are the ones he has stopped payment, going to over six months, using the issue of BVN Linkage in the front burner to further suppress us.
“We are not bank accountants to be able to do all of these things. Many irregularities are perpetrated by the Amnesty office for their selfish interest but is the Innocent Ex-agitators that are suffering the negative effect, because they can’t speak for themselves.
“Sir, on the last week of December 2022, the executive of the Coalition of the Niger-Delta Ex-agitators had a meeting with the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj. Gen. Barry Tariye Ndiomu. In the cause of the meeting, we disclosed to him some fake Camps with numerous slots that those working in the Amnesty office are using to syphon monies from the Programme.
“The fake Camps include; INGIA-WURU-CAMP. ICE LAND, NDFF, ORAN, EGBERI CAMP, ALAMINI FREEDOM FIGHTER 120, FOUCHEE CAMP, KALAWO CAMP, USIGBE, AGUDA, BFF CAMP, TOBI CAMP, OSUO CAMP, BENUWOLO CAMP, EZEKIEL CAMP, KENNETH OPUSINGI, EVAN CAMP, PEREKEME EVAN CAMP 2, EBI CAMP, K GROUP”
“When this Issue was raised, the Interim Administrator in our front asked Mr Bestman, the Head of Peace Building to confirm the allegation in our presence and The head of peace Building confirmed to the Interim Administrator, Maj.Gen. Barry Tariye Ndiomu that is true, that 99 percent of the allegation is correct. Up until now, the Interim Administrator has not done anything about it.”
