News
N1.9 billion Fraud Rocks Amnesty Office
N1.9 billion Fraud Rocks Amnesty Office
By: Michael Mike
The Presidential Amnesty Office is being rocked by a raging controversy over N1.9 billion deducted from trainees and beneficiaries of the programme.
Investigations revealed that the alleged fraud involves the office of the Head of Reintegration of the office.
The N1.9 billion were alleged to have been deducted from contracts that were executed under the Train, Employ and Mentor Programme initiated by a former Interim Administrator, Col Dikio.
Under the TIEM, the beneficiaries of the programme were to be trained, employed and mentored to prevent them from straying after the programme.
Investigations revealed that when General Ndiomu (Retd.) took over, there were 1,200 delegates in training which he stopped. He was said to have conducted graduation for all of them as he was under instruction to bring the programme to an end.
It was gathered that the contracts were renegotiated and the Reintegration Department removed the ‘Employ and Mentor’ component with the promise that the beneficiaries would be outrightly empowered.
It was gathered that the Integration Office deducted funds from the contracts and kept N1.9 billion meant to empower the delegates.
After waiting endlessly for the outright empowerment, the beneficiaries and office staff are complaining that the N1.9 billion component deducted from the contracts have been diverted by the office.
Investigations revealed that the contractors include Bradama International Skill Works Limited (400 delegates), Sunup Logistics Limited (200) delegates, Krisdera Agro Allied FArms, (200 delegates), Teecentenel Nigeria Limited (110), Betrieb Limited (50,) and Vika Farms Limited.
Some delegates under Krisdera Agro Allied Farms and Teecentennel Nigeria Limited that were interviewed are pointing accusing finger in the direction of the Head of Reintegration.
After renegotiating with the contractors, deducted a substantial amount from the contract sum, they went to the various training Centres to offer each delegate 750k to completely delist them from the Amnesty Programme.
The delegates collectively rejected the said amount. The office promised to get back to them but all to no avail. The amount deducted from the negotiations with the contractors is N1.9 billion.
They claim he was responsible for the mastery around delay or disappearance of their Two Months In-Training Allowance which had earlier been paid by the Office to the contractor for onward disbursement to the delegates.
Our investigation revealed that instruction was given to the contractors to withhold the money since the delegates did not complete the eight months they were initially required to spend.
That money has not be returned to the government coffers.
It was further gathered that the Head of the Amnesty Office has directed the security unit to seize the phones of Amnesty staff for investigation because of the purported “leakage of information” and his clash with Chief Timipre Sylva. The investigation commenced today two weeks ago
Penultimate week, all the staff of the office were made to tender their phone for scrutiny by the Head of the office.
Some of the delegates who resisted it move and threatened to file a case against the office were redeployed.
The meeting held in December 2022 and since then the delegates have been kept waiting.
There are fears that the money may have been diverted.
Some of the delegates who came to protest in Abuja were molested with military personnel with military tanks temporarily hired by Indiomu to stop the delegates at all cost.
The concerned delegates who fear they might not receive the money are calling on the office of the NSA which supervises the PAP to look into the books of the agencies.
When contacted on the phone of the allegations, the spokesman of the Office, Freston Akpo said: “The allegation is frivolous and unfounded. It is part of ongoing smear campaign in the media to discredit the interim administrator and his team.”
N1.9 billion Fraud Rocks Amnesty Office
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
No fewer than nine persons were injured on Monday following a clash between farmers and herders in Loko community, Nasarawa State.
Zagazola report that the incident occurred at about noon on Dec. 15 in Bakono village, Loko area, after a dispute over alleged damage to farmland.
The source said the farmland involved belonged to one Bako Usman.
According to the source, the clash resulted in injuries to five farmers and four herders.
Security forces stormed the scene to restore order, while the injured persons were rushed to the General Hospital, Loko, where they were admitted and are responding to treatment.
Sources said that a stakeholders’ meeting had been convened in the community to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
According to the sources, confidence-building patrols are ongoing, the situation is being closely monitored and the area remains relatively calm.
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
By: Zagazola Makama
A soldier has been killed, while two others are missing following an attack on troops escorting farmers in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Monday during a security operation in a bush area of Takum, which has been prone to clashes involving militia elements.
The source said soldiers from a special forces unit along with police, NSCDC were deployed to provide security for Tiv farmers harvesting their farm produce when they were attacked by hoodlums suspected to be local militia in Taraba state.
According to the source, one soldiers was killed during the attack.
The source further disclosed that following the incident, soldiers cordoned off the venue of the Miyetti Allah executives’ election at the FGR Samsokwa Hall, in Takum, and arrested male executives of the association present at the venue. Though it was yet to establish if they were involved in the attack.
Another sources pointed accusing finger at the Taraba state special adviser on security allegedly to be behind the Militia. Though, Zagazola cannot independently verify the claim.
Meanwhile, security forces have arrested a group of suspected armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The suspects were caught with AK-47 rifles during an operation carried out on Friday.
After their arrest, the suspects were taken into custody. In a video that later surfaced online, the men were seen lying face down with their hands tied while security operatives questioned them about where they got the weapons.
One of the suspects alleged that some officials of the Kwara State government gave them both the vehicle and the rifles. He claimed they had been operating in the area under the cover of patrol duties.
According to him, the weapons did not belong to them personally. He said their leader collected the rifles and that they often went on patrol together with some individuals he mentioned by name. He insisted that the guns belonged to those officials.
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted five workers at a construction site along the Sabaja/Owa-Onire Road in Kwara State.
Zagazola report that the incident was reported at about 4:30 p.m. on Monday by Alhaji Suleiman Abdullah Olanrewaju, manager of Fix Contracting Engineering Company.
The source said Olanrewaju reported that the abduction occurred earlier in the day at about 11:40 a.m. while the workers were on site when the gunmen attacked and whisked them away.
Those abducted were identified as Engr. Ademola Afolabi, Engr. Umar Lade, Fatai and Akin, both labourers, as well as a driver identified as Yusuf.
According to the source, the complainant said he had earlier reported the incident to the military before notifying the police.
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oreke mobilised a team of police operatives who linked up with the military and local vigilantes to comb the surrounding bushes in a bid to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing, while security agencies said further developments would be communicated.
End
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
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