By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday approved the appointment of Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd) as Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme.
The appointment was backdated to take effect from Friday, August 21, 2020.
Dikio’s appointment followed Buhari’s approval of the disengagement of Prof. Charles Quarker Dokubo from Office as the Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, with immediate effect.
A statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said “Prof. Dokubo has been directed to hand over all official matters to the most senior officer of the Programme.”
The statement further said “President Buhari appreciated the services of Prof. Dokubo to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and wished him the best in his future endeavours.”
Buhari had in February suspended Dokubo over fraud allegations.
His suspension then was based on a recommendation of a panel chaired by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.).
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had said in a statement said the Monguno panel had looked into the “numerous allegations and petitions surrounding the Presidential Amnesty Programme” and came to the conclusion that Dokubo should be suspended.
In Dokubo’s place then, a caretaker committee was appointed by Buhari to review the programme by bringing its operations in line with the objective of the scheme.