BREAKING NEWS, Judiciary
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ELEVEN ex-militants have dragged their leader, Emomotimi Ukparasia, popularly known as ‘General’ Africa before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa following non-payment of their amnesty stipends. Also joined in the suit are the Federal Government, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The court, on Thursday, fixed November 8 to hear the suit by the aggrieved ex-militants.
The suit listed the angry ex-militants as Karibo Allen, Sunday Elijah, Utiki Claudius, Boukeme Nimitei, Kingsley Nichodemus, Leleindine and Sanga Sanga. Others are James Godgift, Philip Bibinibeye, Joseph Macdonus and Allison Timi-Izuo.
The ex-militants, who were in the camp of Africa, prayed the court to declare that they were validly qualified beneficiaries of the amnesty programme. The ex-militants also sought a declaration that the defendants were liable, especially Boroh, for the payment of their allowances from October 2009 till the termination of the programme.
They prayed the court to mandate the defendants to pay “the sum of N65,000 multiplied by 11 persons being their monthly allowance from October 2009 to September 2012, amounting to N25.6 million and the total accruals of their allowances at the termination of this suit”.
The ex-agitators, in their statement of claims, stated that they accepted the amnesty declaration of the Federal Government, submitted themselves to the disarmament process and participated fully in the post-amnesty orientation training at Obubra in Cross River State. They said they were given three certificates each by the trainees, who were contracted for the training by the government.
According to the ex-militants, they were identified by Africa for admission into the camp and issued identity cards by the PAP. They added that having passed through the processes; they became qualified to benefit from the programme. They averred that based on their qualifications, the defendants asked them to open accounts in different banks for the payment of their stipends.
The ex-militants said, “We concluded the training and ought to start receiving allowances from October 2009 till the end of the amnesty programme but have not received anything. Since we finished our orientation and were asked to leave the camp with promises that we would start receiving our allowances, we have not received any allowance or any other money for any reasons related to the amnesty programme from Africa or any other persons.” – Punch
— Oct 13, 2016 @ 18:58 GMT
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