259 Names, 13 Years Of Alleged Unpaid Amnesty Benefits: Commander Pere Elako Puts Ogunbos On The Spot — “Where Is Our Money?” “You Have Been Eating Our Money Since 2013”

By Passman Akpos

YENAGOA, BAYELSA — Commander Pere Elako, popularly known as Commander Pere, has challenged Ogunbos over what he described as years of alleged exclusion of former members of the Ogunbos Camp from payments and stipends under the Niger Delta amnesty programme.

Elako made the allegations while reacting to a recent video reportedly released by Ogunbos concerning the amnesty programme, insisting that the controversy should be addressed through transparency, accountability and verification of official records.

According to Elako, the issue affects not only beneficiaries from Sagbama but also former members of the camp from Peremabiri and other communities.

«“We started Ogunbos’ camp together, and we also ended it together,” Elako said, recalling the camp’s surrender of weapons to the Federal Government in 2009 following the Niger Delta amnesty initiative under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.»

He questioned why, according to him, attention had allegedly been focused on beneficiaries from Sagbama while former members from Peremabiri were left out.

«“I am asking Ogunbos a direct question: what about the people of Peremabere whom you are not paying?” he asked.»

Alleges More Than 100 Beneficiaries Were Excluded

Elako alleged that several former commanders and members of Ogunbos Camp had not received payments since 2013.

Among those he named were Commander General Etorboimi Gobo, popularly known as Commissioner; Commander Ebiware Maxen; Commander Se Ebrebo; Commander Rachi Dressman; and Commander Erena Adika.

“There are other commanders still there as well,” he said, alleging that people from Peremabiri who were part of the camp had been excluded from payments.

Elako further claimed that the original camp master list contained 259 people, alleging that more than 100 persons on the list were not currently receiving payments.

“In Ogunbos’ original camp master list, which I have in my possession, there are 259 persons,” he said.

He challenged Ogunbos to publicly produce records if he disputed the allegation.

«“If he is indeed paying more than 100 people, let him come forward and prove it,” Elako said.»

‘Let The Records Speak’

Elako also responded to reported comments that Ogunbos was not an employee of the amnesty office but merely a beneficiary.

While saying he would not dwell on that distinction, Elako accused Ogunbos of of giving what he described as a misleading account of the dispute.

“Let me make this clear to the public: everything Ogunbos is saying is a complete lie,” he alleged.

He called on Ogunbos to explain the status of the affected beneficiaries and urged that official records be examined to establish what happened to their alleged payments.

Letters To Amnesty Office, Court Action

Elako said several letters had allegedly been written to the amnesty office in an attempt to resolve the matter.

According to him, the affected former members deliberately avoided taking the law into their own hands and instead pursued institutional and legal channels.

“We cannot take the law into our own hands because we are law-abiding citizens,” he said.

He disclosed that 79 people, including himself, subsequently approached the court over the matter.

“We wanted the court to hear our case, but to this day, the court has not heard our matter,” Elako claimed.

He rejected the characterization that the group had simply lost the case, arguing that their substantive grievances were not fully heard.

“They relied on legal jargon and said we were pardoned by the Federal Government and that was the end, while someone else was eating our money,” he alleged.

Elako insisted that the group remained determined to pursue what it believes are outstanding entitlements.

‘Not A Single Cent Of Our Money Will Be Missed’

Using the biblical story of Moses and Pharaoh as an analogy, Elako said the affected beneficiaries would continue pursuing their claims.

«“Similarly, we will recover everything. Not a single cent of our money will be missed,” he declared.»

He said the alleged outstanding amounts continued to accumulate over the years.

“We are counting, and as the years go by, we keep counting and waiting to receive our money,” he said.

Elako described the matter as one affecting the livelihoods of former members of the programme.

“This is not a matter for sweet talk; we are talking about people’s livelihoods,” he said.

‘My Name Was Removed From The Payroll’

Elako also recounted his alleged experience at the amnesty office in Abuja.

According to him, he personally visited the office and was taken into a computer room, where officials requested his identification cards, including what he described as Bush and Timi Alaibe ID cards.

He alleged that officials subsequently informed him that his name had been removed from the payroll.

“When they checked the system, the officers informed me that our names had been removed from the payroll,” he said.

Elako therefore challenged Ogunbos to explain how the alleged removal occurred and where the corresponding funds went.

“So let him explain who removed my name from the amnesty office payroll, or let him explain it to the court. Where is the money going to?” he asked.

‘We Are Legitimate Beneficiaries’

Elako also disputed any suggestion that the people he represents were not legitimate beneficiaries of the amnesty programme.

“We are the rightful beneficiaries. We have our camp ID cards, our bank account statements, and our training certificates,” he said.

He cited his own participation in the programme as evidence, saying he underwent vocational training as a professional welder in Cape Town, South Africa.

“I went through training as a professional welder in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2011 and returned in 2012,” he said.

Legal Battle Not Over, Elako Says

Elako acknowledged that the group had not immediately proceeded to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court following the earlier court proceedings.

However, he maintained that further legal avenues remained available.

“Although we could not immediately move the matter to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, we can still push forward,” he said.

“There are many ways to handle this matter, and we are waiting for the right time.”

‘Even Your Commanders Are Affected’

Elako concluded by insisting that the alleged payment dispute extended beyond ordinary beneficiaries.

“So it is not only the Sagbama people you are not paying,” he said. “Even your own commanders and many people from Peremabiri are punished for no reason.”

“You have been eating our money since 2013, and we will take everything back at the right time,” he alleged.

The claims by Commander Pere Elako constitute a direct challenge to Ogunbos’ reported account of the amnesty dispute.

The central issues raised by Elako — including the alleged 259-person camp master list, claims of excluded beneficiaries, alleged removal of names from the payroll, outstanding payments and the status of previous court proceedings — could be independently clarified through the relevant official records of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and any applicable court documents.

Ogunbos’ response to the allegations was not included in Elako’s statement. His response, as well as official clarification from the Presidential Amnesty Programme, would be necessary to establish the facts surrounding the disputed beneficiaries, payroll records and alleged unpaid entitlements.