The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Charles Dokubo has stated that he knows nothing about the stealing of the equipment from the just-commissioned Vocational Training Center in Kaiama, Bayelsa State and has also set up an investigative panel to look into the pilferage.
The Coordinator shut down rumours of his involvement in the looting during the launch of the Special Investigative Panel to probe the invasion and looting of the training center which took place in Abuja on Monday.
The members of the panel include Brig-Gen. Sotunde Sangonuga, who is the Chairman of the panel, Mr. Dodoye Arikpo (DSS), Barr. Paddy Ogon, Mrs. Cynthia Ogbe, Mr. Reuben Wilson, and Mr. Unyime Eyo.
According to Dokubo, he had traveled to his home state of Rivers to participate in the Presidential elections and was not present during the incident.
“On the evening of Wednesday, 13th February 2019, news filtered into me that certain persons had invaded this same Vocational Training Center in Kaiama and had, in fact, overwhelmed the security men guarding it.
“The soldiers and other security forces deployed to quell the situation were under strict instruction not to do anything to escalate the tensed pre-election situation in the region.
“It is not entirely true that the soldiers and other security agencies sent to the place during the incident did nothing to stop the orgy of looting.”
Dokubo charged the Special Investigative Panel to ‘truly appraise the roles played by the military and other security agencies in Kaiama on that day’ and ensured his office’s full support and cooperation.
“We shall provide whatever this panel needs to do its job thoroughly without any form of hindrance,” he stated.
“All summons by this panel must be obeyed by all persons in this office and any subpoenaed document must be supplied.”
“The Special Investigative Panel has seven working days to complete its investigations and submit its report.”
Responding to the Coordinator, the Chairman of the Panel, Brig-Gen. Sangonuga disclosed that the panel has started working before the inauguration of the President.
“We promise a very detailed report that will give insight to what actually happened,” he assured.
“We are not new to the Amnesty Programme and we are also touched by what happened.”
