TheCable

The office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says it is carrying out an investigation into multiple accounts allegedly linked to ex-militants. 

Over 300 Niger Delta ex-agitators gathered in front of the national assembly on Tuesday to protest the suspension of their monthly N65,000 stipend.

According to the amnesty programme office, the suspension was necessitated by the issues surrounding alleged BVN fraud.

Freston Akpor, media aide to the PAP interim administrator, said the names of those involved have been forwarded to the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) for investigation.

He also accused bank officials of colluding with the ex-agitators to aid the “financial crime”, adding that the outcome of the investigation will determine the fate of the protesters.

“So the investigation is ongoing and honestly I must tell you there is nothing the Presidential Amnesty Programme can do now over this matter until the investigation is concluded and then the ONSA will take a decision on what to do,” Akpor said in a statement shared with TheCable.

“This is a financial crime that is why the ONSA is investigating the matter. The policy is one name, one BVN. But in a situation where you have more than 30 names linked to one BVN, it becomes an issue.

“We discovered that 513 names were linked to 1370 accounts. And these are the people who have cases to answer. As it stands those who are protesting are the people who fall within those who have multiple accounts linked to their BVN.”

TheCable had reported that the Niger Delta Integrity Group (NDIG) faulted calls for the sack of Barry Ndiomu as the interim administrator of PAP by some ex-agitators.

The NDIG had said the plot was hatched by persons who have illegally benefited from the amnesty programme since 2010.