PAP Debunks Fraud Allegation, Threatens Legal Action Against Mischief Makers

By Peters Monday, Abuja

The office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, has faulted a press conference held by one Friday Iko urging anti-graft and related agencies to investigate the PAP over alleged corruption and fraud in the disbursement of funds to the PAP Cooperative.

This is according to a statement by the Freston Akpor SA Media, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) of which a copy was forwarded to a Congress news correspondent on Monday.

The SA urged the public to disregard such unfounded allegations framed up by enemies of Niger to achieve their self-servicing intentions.

It would be recalled that Iko had among other issues alleged that “some members of staff in the office are receiving huge amounts for welfare ranging between 15 to 10 million Naira for monthly running cost.”

While clarifying further, Akpor said the monies mentioned are a figment of the imagination of the newsmaker who intends to use the media to achieve malicious ends only known to him.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been drawn to a press conference held by one Friday Iko urging anti-graft and related agencies to investigate the PAP over alleged corruption and imputing fraud in the disbursement of funds to the PAP Cooperative.

“The allegations are not only false but also baseless and a calculated attempt to commence another round of a smear campaign against the Interim Administrator and his dedicated management team by forces from within and outside the office.

“The PAP has conducted a background check on the purported newsmaker and has found no person of note with that name or identity. The media is therefore advised to be circumspect in allowing personalities bearing pseudonyms to use their platforms to broadcast or publish such mischief as they (media houses) could be in the crosshair of possible litigations.

“As a national security programme, the PAP under General Ndiomu has been ethical and above board in discharging its mandate of ensuring peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.”

However, PAP called on the security agencies to arrest those spreading falsehoods to undermine the peace in the region, adding the office would press charges against those who employ such falsehoods to defame the chief executive and hardworking staff of the Programme.