Crisis Looms in Niger Delta: Stakeholders Demand Probe of Presidential Amnesty Boss Over Alleged Corruption and Nepotism

Creek Man

Yenagoa, Nigeria.

The fragile peace in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta is once again under threat, as a coalition of ex-agitators, civil society groups, and community stakeholders have issued a powerful petition to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, calling for the immediate investigation and removal of Chief Dennis Brutu Otuaro, PhD, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

In a strongly worded letter dated May 2025, the group accused Dr. Otuaro of gross abuse of office, ethnic favoritism, illegal enlistment of unqualified individuals, and the mismanagement of public funds through non-transparent contract awards.

**”A ticking time bomb”**

Describing the situation as a “ticking time bomb,” the stakeholders warned that unless urgent steps are taken by the federal government, the region could erupt into unprecedented protests both in the creeks of the Niger Delta and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“The continuous silence in the face of these irregularities threatens to erode public trust in government institutions and peace processes. We urge the NSA to act swiftly and restore integrity to the Amnesty Programme before it’s too late,” the letter stated.

**Key Allegations:**

* The unauthorized inclusion of over 1,000 new beneficiaries allegedly handpicked by Dr. Otuaro from his Gbaramatu Kingdom without proper vetting or approval from camp leadership.
* Awarding of multimillion-naira contracts without due process or compliance with procurement guidelines.
* Stagnation of vocational training and scholarship deployments, despite budgetary allocations for such initiatives.
* Redirection of funds into “untraceable avenues” by unnamed cohorts linked to the Amnesty Office.

**Demands from the NSA:**

The petitioners are calling on the NSA to immediately initiate:

1. A comprehensive investigation into all recent enlistments under the PAP.
2. A forensic audit of contracts awarded since Otuaro assumed office.
3. Suspension of all new beneficiary enrollment and contracts until investigations are concluded.
4. Immediate publication of the names allegedly added illegally to the Amnesty database.
5. Clarity on whether the inclusion of Gbaramatu individuals had presidential or NSA approval.

**Preserving Peace and Trust**

The Presidential Amnesty Programme, established in 2009, was designed as a peace-building initiative to rehabilitate and reintegrate ex-agitators who surrendered arms during the Niger Delta crisis. Stakeholders say turning it into a political tool undermines years of progress and could jeopardize national security.

As of press time, the Amnesty Office has not responded to the allegations.

**Nationwide Repercussions?**

With growing tension and threats of mass protests, many are watching closely to see how the federal government will respond to these explosive claims. Analysts warn that inaction could reignite unrest in a region responsible for the bulk of Nigeria’s crude oil production.

See full text below;
“NUHU RIBADU,
National Security Adviser,
State House,
Abuja Nigeria.
Attention!:
 
A CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION AGAINST CHIEF DENNIS BRUTU OTUARO PhD, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME.

As Ex-agitators of the Niger Delta Region we have observed with key interest in relation to all the shortcomings of the Presidential  Amnesty programme under  Dennis Otuaro. We, the real beneficiaries and stakeholders, civil society advocates, and representatives of the Niger Delta region, issue this urgent call to the National Security Adviser (NSA) to take immediate action against Chief. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), for abuse of office, illegal beneficiary inclusion, and the unlawful award of contracts without due process.

we wish to formally notify your highly exalted office that it has been unanimously resolved that the best way forward to get Amnesty Program back on track and to work properly for the beneficiaries is for a people’s action to be taken in the form of a massive protest never before experienced in the history of the Amnesty Program right here in the creeks of the Niger Delta and in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja if actions are not taken immediately against Dennis Otuaro.

Since assuming office, Chief Dennis Otuaro PhD has allegedly overseen: The inclusion of individuals primarily his allies and kinsmen from Gbaramatu Kingdom into the amnesty programme, in clear violation of the eligibility criteria. The awarding of contracts without adherence to due process, transparency, or established procurement guidelines, thereby raising red flags of corruption, nepotism, and abuse of public trust.


The Presidential Amnesty Programme was created as a peace-building framework to rehabilitate and reintegrate genuine ex-agitators who laid down arms in pursuit of peace and development in the Niger Delta Region. Turning it into a tool of Community/ethnic favoritism and personal enrichment undermines national security and will destabilizes the fragile peace in the Niger Delta Region.


Sir, it is quite astonishing that during the recent  deployment of new students, it was allegedly recorded that over one thousand students were included by Dennis Otuaro from His Kins Men without the camp leadership. While Vocational and other industrial trainings and certifications had remained dormant. Due to the sluggish or declining nature of deployments and trainings, funds which has been budgeted for all these activities has been channeled to untraceable avenues by Dennis Otuaro and his cohorts.

Going by the following vexascious developments, we believe the only way to get the proper attention of the authorities and powers that be to once and for all address these anomalies of Gbaramatu agenda by Dennis Otuaro is to embark on the protest that we expressed at the onset of this letter.

We therefore call on the National Security Adviser to:

1. Initiate an immediate investigation into all new entries into the amnesty programme under Mr. Otuaro.

2. Carry out forensic Audit on all contracts awarded since his appointment to ensure compliance with due process and procurement laws.

3. Suspend further enlistment and contract awards pending the outcome of the investigation.

4. Ensure accountability and transparency in the leadership of the Amnesty Office going forward.

5. We demand that Dennis Otuaro should as matter of urgency publish the illegal names included in the amnesty data based. 6. We wants to know if the names added by Dennis Otuaro from Gbaramatu extraction are approved by NSA or the President.

The continuous silence in the face of these irregularities threatens to erode public trust in government institutions and peace processes. We urge the NSA to act swiftly and restore integrity to the Amnesty Programme before it’s too late.”