By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA—Warri Women Consultative Assembly, WWCA, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleging the siphoning of millions of naira from the amnesty stipends meant for 500 Itsekiri youths.

Chairperson of WWCA, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, who led other members of the group to submit the petition to the Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde in Abuja, noted that some unscrupulous elements were using fictitious names to deprive youths of what is theirs.

Chief Ogbebor, who was received by Mrs. Martha Quaghe, EFCC’s Assistant Director, Internal Affairs and Integrity, also reminded the commission of the petition submitted over two months ago of which no action had been taken.

She noted that her resolve to follow up the alleged fraudulent activities to the end was borne out her desire to enthrone peace in the area, warning that “if those genuine beneficiaries of the government amnesty package are deprived of what it theirs, they would turn to insurgency and constitute security challenge in the state.”

According to the petition, “the wrong people have been acting on our behalf without authority since 2012 when the Federal Government gave out 500 slots to the Itsekiri in the amnesty programme
“A group of persons quickly went ahead to register a body to be responsible for the coordination of the progra-mme on behalf of the Itsekiri.”