Popular Niger-Delta Activist reply Amnesty Boss’ 1billion Naira Lawsuit, describe the entire claims of Otuaro as baseless, frivolous, and vexatious and should be dismissed with substantial costs

By Odienmene Olamene

The Administrator of the presidential Amnesty programme, Chief Dennis Brutus Otuaro PhD. Had sued Passman Akpos, and Tarakirivoice Newspaper Enterprise a billion Naira Lawsuit, stating that he has defamed him in a publication in Tarakirivoice Newspaper Enterprise.

Mr Passman Akpos is an Activist, a Beneficiary of the presidential Amnesty programme, his one of those at the forefront of calling the Administrator of the Amnesty programme, Chief Dennis Brutus Otuaro to increase the stipends of delegates.

Recall, Tarakirivoice has reported the increase of the budgetary allocation of the presidential Amnesty programme from N65 billion to N115 billlion on the 2025 appropriation Act.

The Activist has called on the Administrator to increase the monthly stipends of delegates as sixty five thousand Naira is not sufficient based on the prevailing economic situation, he reiterated that, upon the receipt of the presidential Amnesty programme Administrator’s Lawsuit of 1 billion Naira, he has received assassination attempt on several occasions. “The other day someone called me and told me to watch my back that Otuaro has arranged a machinery to arrest me, he mentioned the name of the person, that the person was asking people my house, and according him some of the people he asked polightly declined and even confronted the person jokely that he want to do those his dirty deals?”

In a related development, Tarakirivoice gathered that one Comrade Owoupele Eneoriekumoh Owous, a Beneficiary of the presidential Amnesty programme was arrested since on the 6th day of June, 2025 by the Administrator of the presidential Amnesty programme, Chief Dennis Brutus Otuaro PHD. at the Bayelsa State Command, at the old market road, sport complex road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State popularly known as Kpofada Police outfit, known for violating the fundamental rights of Bayelsans.

Owoupele was later taken away on the 11th day of June, 2025 and brought to Abuja.

Sometime in May, He called for the increment of the Presidential Amnesty Program monthly stipends for beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Program who are ex-agitators.

The current salary/stipend structure summed at 65,000 Naira (Sixty Five Thousand Naira) only is what is paid to beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Program since 2008, since the embracing of the amnesty program.

That this call for the increment of the stipends paid to beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Program headed by him, was hinged on the fact that the stipends can no longer sustain the livelihood of beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Program holding to the economic realities of the day.

This call was made by him as a result of the mismanagement of funds under the Special Adviser of the Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, meant for beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Program.

This year, the yearly budget of the Presidential Amnesty Program was increased twice, with the aim of making sure all Ex-Agitators under the Presidential Amnesty Scheme are properly taking care of, and their stipends are increased. However, this diplomatic non-violent agitation turned into unlawful arrest and incarceration of Owoupele Eneoriekumoh Owous until date.

The Activist, in his statement of oath, noted “I, MR. AKPOS PASSMAN, male, adult, Nigerian citizen, a beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the current leader of the OPOBOW Presidential Amnesty Camp of Ekeremor Town in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, of Ekeremor Town, Bayelsa State, make oath and state as follows:That I am the 1st Defendant in this suit and I make this statement in that capacity and in defence of this action.

That I am familiar with the facts of this case and I have the authority to depose to this statement on behalf of myself and the 2nd Defendant.

That the Defendants admit paragraph 1 of the Statement of Claim only to the extent that the Claimant is the current Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, having been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024.

That in response to paragraph 2 of the Statement of Claim, I state that I am a recognised beneficiary of the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme and currently the leader of the OPOBOW Presidential Amnesty Camp in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

That the Defendants admit paragraph 3 of the Statement of Claim only to the extent that I registered the 2nd Defendant.

That the Defendants deny paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Statement of Claim and state that the platform operated by the 2nd Defendant is not used exclusively by me. Several auditors and publishers also utilize the platform for their own publications.

That the Claimant is put to the strictest proof of the allegation that I authored the publication complained of.

That the Defendants deny paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Statement of Claim. I state clearly that I did not author the said publication, as evident from the face of the publication and the Claimant’s own pleadings.

That paragraphs 12, 13, and 14 of the Statement of Claim are denied. The publication in question was a report of statements purportedly made by one Dr. Ebebe (or Etebe) Washman, and not authored by me. There is no indication that I was the author of the said publication.

That although I registered the 2nd Defendant, I am not the author of the publication referenced by the Claimant.

That the Claimant has already identified someone else as the author of the said publication, and as such, the Claimant is put to the strictest proof that the said publication is attributable to me in any way.

That the Defendants deny paragraphs 15, 17, and 18 of the Statement of Claim and state that one Mr. Ebi Fortune Eweye was not authorised or instructed by the Claimant to carry out any of the activities alleged therein. The Claimant is put to strictest proof.

That paragraph 16 of the Statement of Claim is denied. The Claimant is put to strict proof of the alleged publication and the specific digital platform where it was allegedly published.

That the Defendants are not in a position to admit or deny paragraph 19 of the Statement of Claim as the facts therein are exclusively within the Claimant’s knowledge.

That the Defendants admit paragraphs 20 to 24 only to the extent that the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is responsible for implementing reintegration and rehabilitation programmes for ex-militants granted Amnesty by the Federal Government.

That the Administrator’s duties also include engaging stakeholders in the Niger Delta and ensuring peaceful coexistence to foster economic growth and stability, particularly in oil-producing areas.

That while I acknowledge these statutory duties of the Administrator, I am not in a position to determine if the present Claimant has effectively discharged them.

That I vehemently deny paragraphs 25, 26, and 27 of the Statement of Claim and state that the Claimant is put to strict proof that I disseminated or circulated the said publication on Google, Mentor, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, or any other digital platform.

That the Claimant did not brief or authorise the counsel on record to institute this suit, which is evident from the absence of any verifying affidavit sworn to by the Claimant in support of the Originating Processes.

That the Claimant is not listed among the proposed witnesses, has never attended court during the pendency of this matter, and there is no indication that he intends to participate at any stage.

That the entire claims of the Claimant are baseless, frivolous, and vexatious and should be dismissed with substantial costs in the sum of Fifty Million Naira (₦50,000,000.00) in favour of the Defendants.

That I make these depositions herein in good faith and sincerely believing same to be true and correct and in accordance with the oaths Act, 2004.