BREAKING: Abuja Magistrate Forgets Case File In Wife’s Car, Delays Bail Ruling For Activist Accused Of Defaming Amnesty Boss, Otuaro

The ruling on the bail application of Niger Delta activist, Owoupele Eneoriekumoh Owous, scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2025, suffered an unexpected setback after the presiding Magistrate, Abdullahi Ahmed Ilelah, of the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, sitting in Dutsen, on Monday, reportedly forgot the case file in his wife’s car.

Efforts to retrieve the file before the close of court proceedings were unsuccessful, prompting the court to adjourn the matter to Monday, July 28, 2025, for a new bail ruling date.

Arrest and Detention

Owous has been in detention at the Keffi Correctional Centre since his arrest on June 6, 2025, following a petition by Chief Dennis Otuaro, the Special Adviser to the President on the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The activist was arraigned on June 23 on charges of criminal conspiracy and defamation of character, stemming from allegations he made against Otuaro.

Owous had publicly accused the Amnesty Programme boss of corruption, embezzlement, and the illegal award of contracts.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Otuaro as Administrator of PAP in March 2024, succeeding Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd.), who had served as Interim Administrator since his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari on September 15, 2022.

Owous’ arrest came shortly after he publicly demanded transparency, accountability, and increased stipends for programme beneficiaries. He was taken to Abuja on June 11, 2025.

Eyewitnesses say Owous was picked up by heavily armed officers of the Bayelsa State Police Command at Sports Complex Road in Yenagoa—an area locally known as Kpofada Police Outfit. He was later transferred to Abuja and placed in solitary confinement at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) facility.

According to reports, Otuaro’s grudge against Owous stems from the latter’s repeated calls for accountability and his request for an increase in monthly stipends for beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme.

In separate letters to the Chief of Army Staff, Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS), and Inspector General of Police, Owous gave notice of his intention to lead a peaceful protest against endemic corruption in the Amnesty Office.

He also accused Otuaro of unfair treatment, plans to siphon increased budgetary allocations for personal gain, and the infiltration of the programme by unauthorised individuals and non-agitators. The letters called for a discreet investigation into the allegations.

Angered by these accusations, Otuaro filed a petition dated May 29, 2025, which led to Owous’s arrest and detention.

Seprebofa Oyeghe, Esq., legal counsel for Owous, stated that security operatives have blocked all attempts to access his client.

Protests and Allegations Against Otuaro

His arrest has sparked backlash from civil society groups, particularly a coalition known as the Niger Delta Concerned Youths for Change, which recently led a protest against Otuaro.

The coalition accused the Special Adviser of converting the Amnesty Office into a private enterprise, alleging diversion of public funds and a pattern of fraudulent contract awards.

According to anonymous sources, Otuaro allegedly breached the Public Procurement Act, 2007, by awarding contracts to inactive or non-qualified companies, including Zeechy Multi-Concept Limited, Triple Two Oil and Gas Ltd, and Nexgen Quantum Edge Consultancy Solutions Ltd.

Other claims and allegations include the use of vague or duplicated contract descriptions, such as in deals with Puah Media Entertainment Network Ltd and alleged payments of public funds into personal accounts, including sums of N131.8 million, N162.4 million, and N5.5 million.

There are also allegations of over-concentration of contracts to a few firms, including Puah Media, Hyatt Global Resources, Nexgen Quantum Edge, and Maro-Kana Construction Ltd. Additionally, 12 contracts worth over N713 million were allegedly awarded between June and August 2024 to Nexgen Quantum Edge, a company reportedly incorporated only in April 2024.

Despite these serious allegations, Owous remains in detention pending the rescheduling of the bail ruling.

The case continues to raise concerns over the state of civic space and the treatment of whistleblowers in Nigeria.