ALLEGED FRAUD: Opubow Camp Beneficiaries Accuse Leader, Passman Akpos Of Identity Theft, Diversion Of Stipends, Demand Forensic Audit
*Describe PAP Boss, Dr. Otuaro As Man Of Transparency, High Integrity
A group identifying itself as Concerned Beneficiaries and Legitimate Members of the Opubow Camp in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, has petitioned the Administrator of the PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, over alleged criminal takeover, identity theft and financial fraud in the camp.
In a statement issued anonymously and made available to journalists on Wednesday, the group levelled grave allegations against one Passman Akpos, whom they accused of hijacking the leadership and payment structure of the camp.
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According to the petitioners, Akpos was never an original armed participant or legitimate beneficiary of the disarmament process but allegedly seized control of the camp after the death of his elder brother, the former leader.
They further alleged that following the death, the widow and children of the late leader were banished and cut off from the camp’s affairs and left destitute.
The group also accused Akpos of engaging in large-scale identity theft to divert monthly amnesty stipends belonging to members of the camp.
The petitioners alleged that Akpos approached the United Bank for Africa, UBA, to open unauthorized accounts in the names of beneficiaries, allegedly in connivance with compromised officials.
They claimed the accounts were later closed by the bank over alleged Know Your Customer, KYC, compliance violations after he allegedly failed to fulfil financial inducements.
Undeterred, the group further alleged, Akpos wrote formally to the Presidential Amnesty Office demanding that all stipends for Opubow Camp be paid into his personal account for onward distribution, a request they said was rejected by the PAP on grounds of safety and procedure.
The petitioners further alleged that he thereafter extended the operation to other financial institutions, including Fidelity Bank, where he allegedly opened unauthorized accounts using the names and personal data of beneficiaries without their consent to bypass the PAP’s direct payment system.
The aggrieved beneficiaries called on the PAP Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, whom they described as a man of transparency and high integrity, to intervene urgently to prevent further escalation.
“We are begging the Amnesty Office to urgently investigate nearly every account submitted under Opubow Camp. Our identities have been stolen, our lives are threatened, and our hard-earned stipends are being hijacked,” the statement read in part.
They demanded:
*1.* An immediate forensic audit of all bank accounts currently linked to Opubow Camp at the PAP;
*2.* Direct, face-to-face verification of all beneficiaries to identify and weed out alleged ghost accounts; and
*3.* Investigation of the allegations by relevant security agencies.
The group challenged Passman Akpos, the mentioned banks and the Presidential Amnesty Office to respond publicly to the allegations.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts to get reactions from the accused and the institutions mentioned were ongoing.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 22ND 2026)
