Hundreds of protesters on Wednesday barricaded the National Assembly complex, urging lawmakers to compel President Bola Tinubu to suspend the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Otuaro, over alleged nepotism and favoritisms.
The protesters, including women and youths, demonstrated at the entrance of the complex for hours with banners and placards, insisting that the delay by the President may lead to the destruction of evidence or tampering with the investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The protesters, who gathered under the auspices of the Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-Agitators Forum (NDLEF), noted that they cannot fold their hands and watch those who are supposed to be beacons of hope and pilots of developmentin the Niger Delta Region become its nightmares.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Odey Otunu implored President Tinubu and the National Assembly to conduct a thorough investigation into the complaints lodged against PAP and its leadership, alleging that the supposed interventionist agency is fast becoming a conduit pipe for treasury looters.
Otunu further informed the authorities that the administration of PAP has awarded contracts to companies outside their mandates, adding that investigations have further revealed that most of these companies are not even registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
He said, “Upon his appointment by Mr. President, 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 though the company is registered as a construction firm, it has been awarded a contract by Otuaro for consultancy.
“This is clearly giving a mandate to the company to do what it lacks the legal capacity to do.
“A simple search on the Corporate Affairs Commission revealed that the company is inactive and therefore does not qualify to bid for a government contract.
Yet, this is the company that, without any bidding process, has received billions of Naira perpetually for organizing fictitious stakeholder meetings only.
“We trust the Presidency to do the right thing, and we strongly believe that the immediate suspension of Dr. Dennis would be appropriate in order to prevent the destruction of evidence or tampering with the investigation.
“While anticipating an expeditious consideration of our clients’ complaint, in line with your avowed commitment to the discharge of your constitutional and statutory duties to restore hope to the hopeless, please accept the assurance of our professional regards.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate his renewed thrust for fiscal probity and governance accountability by compelling all relevant anti-graft agencies to beam their searchlight on the horrendous financial activities.”
