By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
Retired Major-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu, former Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has come under fresh public scrutiny following an anonymous social media allegation claiming he paid ₦4 billion in bribes to retain his appointment, but supporters insist the accusation is unsubstantiated and inconsistent with his decades-long record of public service.
The allegation, circulated by an anonymous X (formerly Twitter) account identified as Third Eye, alleged that Ndiomu paid ₦500 million monthly for eight months to the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in exchange for a promised tenure extension.
However, the claim was not accompanied by documentary evidence, bank records, witness testimony or findings from any official investigative agency, leaving it without public substantiation.
Supporters of the retired military officer argue that the allegation contradicts the career of a man who served the Nigerian Army for about 35 years, rising from his enlistment in 1983 to the rank of Major-General before retiring in 2017.
A lawyer and career soldier, Ndiomu is widely recognised for his military service and is among the few Nigerians whose family produced two Major-Generals, following in the footsteps of his late father, Major-General Charles Bebeye Ndiomu.
After retirement, Ndiomu returned to public service in September 2022 when the Federal Government appointed him Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme at a period marked by administrative and operational challenges.
During his tenure, he embarked on extensive consultations with traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders across the Niger Delta in efforts to strengthen confidence in the programme and sustain peace in the region.
His administration also pursued initiatives aimed at creating employment opportunities for beneficiaries through engagements with government institutions, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The engagements sought to facilitate employment for about 350 PAP beneficiaries who graduated with first and second-class honours from universities, while encouraging entrepreneurship and cooperative development among trained ex-agitators.
Supporters also point to Ndiomu’s financial management during his tenure, noting that he inherited about ₦17 billion in outstanding obligations to consultants, contractors and vendors but reportedly cleared the liabilities within six months of assuming office.
In addition to leading the Amnesty Programme, Ndiomu was appointed Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Crude Oil Theft, a responsibility regarded as one of the Federal Government’s key security assignments.
Those defending the retired General argue that his career has been defined by discipline, institutional loyalty and adherence to due process, maintaining that any allegation of criminal conduct should be supported by credible evidence before conclusions are drawn.
They stressed that while public officials must remain accountable, allegations alone should not overshadow decades of military service and contributions to peacebuilding and national development.
The controversy continues to generate debate, but no official investigation or evidence has so far been made public to substantiate the bribery allegation against the former PAP administrator.
