Reps Threaten Arrest Warrant for Presidential Amnesty Programme Boss Over N26bn Audit Query
The House of Representatives has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, after he failed to appear before its Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to address audit queries involving over N26 billion.
The Committee Chaired by Representative Bamidele Salam has now given him a 72-hour ultimatum to appear on Tuesday, 9th December 2025, or face enforcement action.
The decision was taken during the Committee’s public hearing on Thursday, 4th December 2025, following Dr. Otuaro’s repeated refusal to honour six prior invitations.
A motion seeking the issuance of a warrant of arrest was moved by Hon. Dominic Okafor and seconded by Hon. Aliyu Bappa Missau, and was unanimously adopted by the Committee.
The Auditor-General’s report highlights several financial infractions, including:
* Violation of the Federal Government’s e-payment policy on transactions totalling N17.6 billion;
* N3.6 billion paid without internal audit checks;
* N1.5 billion in tuition fee payments lacking supporting documents;
* Circumvention of procurement procedures;
* Cash advances issued above approved thresholds amounting to N1.2 billion;
* Other related irregularities.
The Committee has directed Dr. Otuaro and other principal officers of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to appear on Tuesday, 9th December 2025, to defend the audit queries, warning that a warrant of arrest will be issued, should they fail to do so.
