Buhari Suspends Amnesty Programme Boss, Dokubo
- Over alleged malfeasance
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The crisis of confidence, political manipulations and controversy over transparent funds management dogging the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta region have claimed another casualty.
The latest victim is the Programme Coordinator, Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo who has been suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in Abuja on Friday, said; “Following numerous allegations and petitions surrounding the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the National Security Adviser (NSA) set up a Caretaker Committee to look into the activities of the programme, on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
According to Adesina, “Part of the Committee’s task is to ensure that allocated resources are properly utilized in consonance with government’s objective of alleviating problems in the Niger Delta region, and stamping out corruption in the Amnesty Programme.
“Consequently, the NSA recommended to Mr President that the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo be suspended, a recommendation that has been approved and which takes immediate effect.”
He further explained that “The President has also directed that the Caretaker Committee set up to review the programme should oversee the running of the programme henceforth, with a view to ensuring that government objectives are achieved.”
The Caretaker Committee, set up by the NSA, Babagana Monguno on the orders of Mr President, is now saddled with ensuring faithful execution of the programme that has been hampered by numerous allegations and petitions on allegations of financial misdeeds.
Appointed by President Buhari in March 2018, Prof Dokubo had replaced Brig.-General Paul Boroh, who was also consumed by allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds meant to implement the programme.
Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua initiated the Amnesty programme in 2008 to curtail the restiveness and rebellion by the Niger Delta militants.
