Audit report: Ijaw group faults Reps invitation of PAP boss

The Ijaw Youths Network has faulted the House of Representatives for tackling the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, over alleged financial irregularities highlighted against the agency in the 2021 audit report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The group said it was curious that the House Committee on Public Accounts has been dragging Otuaro to answer questions on the alleged breaches that predated his appointment.

The IYN, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National President, Frank Ebikabo, and the Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, stated that Otuaro was appointed in March 2024, three years after the audit report on previous administrations at the agency.

The group stated that the committee’s threat to use warrant of arrest to compel Otuaro to appear at its public hearing on the 2021 audit report concerning deployments of funds three years before his appointment is curious and unnecessary.

It expressed concern on the committee’s decision to insist that Otuaro should provide explanations on issues that did not take place under him, stressing that the move defies logic.

The IYN noted that the committee could reach out those who held sway at the PAP when the funds involved were withdrawn rather than making it an affair of Otuaro.

The group urged the committee to leave the PAP boss alone and seek other ways to get clarity on the issues they are dealing with.

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The group stated: “The Ijaw Youths Network is faulting the move by the House of Representatives, through its Public Accounts Committee, to invite the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, over alleged financial irregularities highlighted against the PAP in the 2021 audit report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

“We find it very curious that the House Public Accounts Committee wants Dr Dennis Otuaro to answer questions on alleged breaches that happened over three years before he was appointed as head of the agency.

“The PAP Administrator was appointed in March 2024, three years after the said 2021 audit report was done. Is it not illogical that he is being called upon to answer questions on what happened in the agency before he came on board?

“We are compelled to believe that the committee’s insistence that the PAP Administrator should appear at its public hearing to clarify issues that did not take place under him is not proper.

“We wonder what else could be the reason behind the threat by the Public Accounts Committee to issue a warrant of arrest against Dr Dennis Otuaro to compel him to appear before its public hearing on the 2021 audit report?

“Does Otuaro have the power to undo what was done three our four years before his appointment. We are in ounce to think that the House could invite those who were at the helm of affairs when the said infractions occurred.

“The Committee should find other ways of investigating aspects of the 2021 audit report relating to the Presidential Amnesty Programme rather than making it an affair of the current head of the agency.

The Star