IYC Condemns ₦26 Billion Probe and Threat of Arrest Warrant on PAP Administrator, Dr. Otuaro
IYC Condemns ₦26 Billion Probe and Threat of Arrest Warrant on PAP Administrator, Dr. Otuaro
In what has become a rapidly intensifying national discourse, the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, has strongly faulted the approach adopted by the House of Representatives in its attempt to probe the alleged expenditure of ₦26 billion under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), as well as the threat of issuing an arrest warrant against the Programme’s Administrator, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro.
The House, acting through its Public Accounts Committee, summoned Dr. Otuaro to appear and give account of the spending allegedly carried out during the 2020–2021 fiscal period. The IYC’s position is clear: the investigation itself is welcomed, but the timing, tone, and target of the probe raise serious questions.
“Ill-Conceived and Hasty” — IYC Warns
In a strongly worded statement made public on December 10, 2025, the IYC leadership condemned the threat of an arrest warrant against Dr. Otuaro, describing it as “hasty, unnecessary, and ill-conceived.”
According to the Council, the ₦26 billion under scrutiny was reportedly expended long before Dr. Otuaro assumed office. The Council insists that it is neither morally upright nor administratively logical to hold the current Administrator accountable for expenditures made under previous leadership.
“It would have been more appropriate and honorable for the Committee to invite those who were at the helm of affairs during the period in question,” the statement read.
A Track Record of Positive Reforms
Since his appointment as the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro has won the commendation of stakeholders across the Niger Delta. The IYC Western Zone notes that his administration has delivered timely mobilization for students, both locally and abroad, ensuring that scholars under the PAP are not stranded by bureaucracy.
Additionally, the Council highlights the prompt payment of monthly stipends to ex-agitators — a crucial foundation for peace and stability in the region. For the IYC, this level of administrative efficiency has been rare in recent years, and the sudden pressure from the House of Representatives risks undermining the rebuilding of trust between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta people.
A Warning Against Power Games
Beyond the issue of procedural fairness, the IYC made a strong warning: the legislature must exercise its oversight duties with restraint and avoid serving the agenda of “unscrupulous elements” whose interest lies in destabilizing the region.
The Council cautions that unnecessary provocations may fuel tension and open the door to avoidable crisis — a reality the Niger Delta has worked painstakingly to move past. The IYC, therefore, declares that it will not stand idle if actions perceived as oppressive or unjust are directed at the current PAP leadership.
Oversight Must Be Fair and Sincere
While acknowledging the constitutional role of the House of Representatives to conduct probes into government agencies and expenditure, the IYC insists that such powers must be exercised with fairness, equity, and sincerity of purpose.
The Council reiterates its support for due process, accountability, and transparent public governance. However, it insists that any investigation should begin from the appropriate timeline and target those who actually presided over the alleged expenditure.
In closing, the Ijaw Youth Council assures stakeholders that it remains committed to peace, justice, and the sustainable development of the Niger Delta, urging all concerned parties to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation.
Signed:
Source: Press Statement by Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone — 10 December 2025.
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