The Presidential Amnesty Programme has dismissed reports that it is owing Novena University tuition fees for 5,000 Itsekiri graduates, insisting the students were never part of its scholarship scheme.
The denial came on Tuesday in a statement signed by PAP’s Special Assistant on Media, Igoniko Oduma, following claims by a representative of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, that the Amnesty Office owed the institution.
The monarch’s aide, Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, had alleged that PAP was indebted to Novena, prompting the palace to announce it would step in to settle the supposed “outstanding tuition and clearance fees.”
But PAP said the story was “false, baseless, and an attempt to stand truth on its head,” stressing that the Amnesty Office has no unpaid fees in Novena University or in any institution within or outside Nigeria.
“The management of PAP wishes to state unequivocally that it is not owing Novena University any tuition fees on account of the said Itsekiri graduates,” the statement read. “PAP wishes to say also that it is not owing tuition fees in any institution within or outside the country.”
The programme explained that a previous leadership had already investigated the issue and found that the 5,000 students were sent to Novena University in 2017 by the Itsekiri National Youth Council without any input or approval from PAP.
“The inquiry showed that the affected Itsekiri graduates constituted a list sent to Novena by the INYC purporting them to be PAP beneficiaries,” the statement added. “The list did not emanate from PAP and had no authorization from the Amnesty Programme office.”
According to PAP, meetings held during the investigation with INYC leaders and Novena University’s management confirmed there was no correspondence linking the agency to the students.
“At the end of the exercise, the PAP duly informed the management of Novena University that the Amnesty Programme office would not bear any liability for the affected students. Doing so would have amounted to encouraging sharp practices,” the statement noted.
It added that successive administrators respected the findings of the inquiry and declined to recognize the students as beneficiaries.
The Amnesty Office also highlighted the reforms under the current Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, who has expanded scholarship opportunities for ex-agitators in the Niger Delta.
“His noble reforms and initiatives to ensure that the PAP renders efficient service to the people of the Niger Delta have been applauded in official quarters, as well as by all well-meaning individuals and organisations,” the statement read.
PAP maintained that the claims of indebtedness were misleading and urged the public not to be swayed by misinformation.
