PAP:AGF’s Audit report, not for current PAP administration.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has published a statement emphasizing that the Auditor-General of the Federation’s audit report, which identified potential violations in money management, is unrelated to the current administration.
According to a report published by Sahara Reporters and other media groups, the Presidential Amnesty Programme illegally took over N6 billion and paid tuition for students who had no records.
However, the PAP has indicated that the audit results and reports precede the appointment of Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the current Administrator.
Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, issued a statement on Monday including the PAP’s clarification.
Dr. Otuaro was appointed in March 2024, although the audit results were for alleged breaches that occurred three years earlier, between 2020 and 2021.
The PAP has assured that since taking office, Dr. Otuaro has meticulously followed all existing financial transaction norms and regulations, adopting strict financial controls and oversight to ensure openness and accountability.
The statement reads:
‘’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, notably Channelstv.com.
‘’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.”
