Court summons Dokubo, over alleged diversion of 75 amnesty slots, stipends

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Tuesday summoned Prof Charles Dokubo, Cordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Office to appear before it on January 21, 2020.

The court presided over by Justice Justice Awogboro Abimbola also dismissed an application by two ex-militants to join the suit alleging diversion of N65,000 monthly stipends for 75 amnesty beneficiaries from 2010 till date.

Ruling on application for joinder, Abimbola said that she found no merit in the application as the applicants were not a necessary part in matter.

"I find no merit in the application for joinders as the rule for joinders require that only those whose inclusion will ensure the dispensation of justice, the application is hereby dismissed,' Abimbola said.

Two Ex-militant leaders, Messrs Aso Tambo and Stephen Ebisintei had sought to be joined in a suit which alleged the diversion of stipends for 75 ex-militants who embraced the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The ex-agitators had brought the application through their Counsel, Mr Stanley Damabide before the High Court 

The judge recalled that she had on Sept. 26 summoned  Dokubo,who is also a Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta over alleged diversion of stipends meant for 75 former militants.

Abimbola told Counsel to Dokubo, Pere Ikuetemi to ensure that the Cordinator of the Amnesty Office appears before her on the next adjourned date for continuation of hearing.

Also summoned to appear before Justice Awogboro Abimbola were Mr Isaac Ityohuma and Mr Aroloye Brown, Director of Finance and Accounts and Head of Reintegration in the Presidential Amnesty office.

The defendants were dragged to court by some 75 ex-militants under the Benuwolo Camp in the 2nd phase of the scheme, who accepted the Presidential Amnesty in 2010.

The militants are demanding payment of outstanding N492 million for the 75 members of the camp from January 2011 to May 2019.

The group urged the court to declare that the alleged fraudulent manipulation of the 75 slots allotted to Benuwolo Camp by officials of the Amnesty Office in connivance with some ex-militants as unlawful.

The militants had in their statement of claims filed by their Counsel, Mr Richard Turner urged the court to order the Amnesty Office to revert the 75 slots of the Camp and halt further diversion of slots by the office.