The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) at the weekend urged security agencies to arrest those spreading falsehood in order to undermine the existing peace in the Niger Delta region.
Senior Assistant on Media to the InterimAdministrator, Mr Freston Akpor, stated this in a statement issued to journalists, following a press conference held by one Friday Iko.
Iko, had in the press conference urged anti-graft and related agencies to investigate the PAP over alleged corruption and imputing fraud in the disbursement of funds to the PAP Cooperative Scheme.
But Akpor while reacting to the allegation said it was a renewed smear campaign to tarnish the image and good works of the Interim Administrator, Maj-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd) and his management team.
The PAP also threatened to sue those who employ falsehood to defame the agency and its Chief Executive, while equally urging the media not to allow their medium to be used by agents of destabilization.
The statement said “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.
“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. The monies mentioned are clearly a figment of the imagination of the newsmaker who intends to use the media to achieve malicious ends only known to him.
“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 cross hair of possible litigations”.
The statement added that “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. The PAP therefore wish to call on the security agencies to arrest those spreading falsehood to undermine the peace in the region.
“The PAP will also not hesitate to bring charges against those who employ such falsehood in order to defame the chief executive and hardworking staff of the Programme”.
