2021 Audit Report: Ijaw Group Faults Reps Otuaro’s Invitation

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

According to the group, it is curious that the House Committee on Public Accounts is dragging Otuaro to answer questions on the alleged breaches that predated his appointment.

The IYN, in a statement on Sunday signed 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.

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

They wondered why the committee would insist that Otuaro provide explanations for issues that did not occur under his leadership, stressing that the move defied logic.

The IYN members noted that the committee could reach out to those who held sway at the PAP when the funds involved were withdrawn, rather than making it an affair of an Otuaro.

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

The statement read in part, “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 or four years before his appointment. We are inclined 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.