ONSA probing BVN with 30 names – Amnesty Office to ex-agitators

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Office, led by Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd), has reacted to the protest by ex-agitators over their allowances.

A section of repentant fighters gathered at the premises of the National Assembly this week over the stoppage of their monthly N65,000 stipend.

But the PAP said the outcome of a probe into multiple accounts of ex-agitators linked to a single Bank Verification Number (BVN) would determine their fate.

The names of those involved in the BVN fraud have been forwarded to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Addressing reporters, Freston Akpor, media aide to PAP Interim Administrator, accused bank officials of colluding with some former fighters.

“There is nothing the Presidential Amnesty Programme can do now until the investigation is concluded. Then the ONSA will make a decision.

“This is a financial crime, that is why the ONSA is investigating. The policy is one name, one BVN. A situation where you have over 30 names linked to one BVN is an issue,” he said.

Akpor also disclosed the discovery of 513 names linked to 1, 370 accounts, noting that such persons “have cases to answer.”

The spokesperson informed the public that the protesters are the people who fall within those who have multiple accounts linked to their BVN.

On the agreement with ex-agitators’ leaders to receive monies in bulk for onward disbursement, the Amnesty Office said “the same boys complained that the money doesn’t trickle down to them.”