Aggrieved youth from nine Niger Delta States have sent a petition to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, demanding an audit of finances of the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Paul Boroh. The petition, dated August 24th, 2016, said that while there may have been successes under Mr. Boroh’s leadership there is a need for a comprehensive audit to establish whether there were any illegal diversions of funds.
The petitioners, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Youths for Change and Justice, and signed by John Ogbemudia and others, was distributed to media in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The statement further alleged that the Amnesty Office is laden with fraud and unlawful diversions of funds from intended beneficiaries.
According to the statement, “We have observed the series of claims and counter claims on the administration of Boroh at the Amnesty office and concluded that they are either ignorant of facts or out for pure gains from the office. We also observed that many have threatened to write the EFCC over alleged corrupt practices in the Amnesty office, but lack courage. We are ready with the needed facts and figures needed by the National Assembly to probe the Office."
"Though the Gen. Paul Boroh may have been known to serve meritoriously in the military, his handling of the Amnesty Office is bedeviled with fraud. The Paul Boroh decision to spend scarce resources to known Ex-Militant leaders from Bayelsa and Delta state without accountability has rubbished the Anti-corruption battle of President Muhammadu Buhari. "
The group alleged that there were “ghost beneficiaries” that “received” benefits from the Amnesty Office. They also stated that many of these so-called beneficiaries are hidden under the guise of tuition expenses for ex-militants.
The statement also queried what happened to the “ghost beneficiaries” the Amnesty Office inherited from its predecessor, Kingsley Kuku. The statement then alluded that Mr. Boroh’s Amnesty Office has been colluding with the same contractors and fraudsters under Mr. Kuku to carry out the same scams and unlawful diversions.
The group of youth concluded that they would be willing to come forth and meet Mr. Saraki to show evidence of unlawful dealings in the Amnesty Office.
