The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has dismissed reports that it owes tuition fees for 5,000 Itsekiri graduates of Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, insisting that none of the students in question were ever beneficiaries of its scholarship scheme. Reacting to claims by Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, who issued a statement on behalf of the Office of the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri to NNPLC, PAP clarified that the students were not deployed under its programme. Edema had alleged that PAP’s “indebtedness” to Novena University forced the Olu’s Palace to announce an intervention to clear tuition and outstanding fees for the affected graduates. In a statement signed by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to PAP Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the agency stressed that it has no record linking the students to its scholarship scheme. “The management of PAP wishes to state unequivocally that it is not owing Novena University any tuition fees on account of the said Itsekiri graduates. Any claim to the contrary is totally false, baseless, and represents an attempt to stand truth on its head,” the statement read. PAP explained that an official inquiry by previous administrations into the matter revealed that the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC) submitted a list of 5,000 names to Novena University in 2017, purporting them to be PAP-sponsored students. Investigations showed that the list never emanated from the Amnesty Office, nor was it authorized. The agency noted that Novena University’s management, including its Vice Chancellor, failed to produce any documentation to show PAP’s approval of the purported students. Consequently, PAP informed the institution that it would not assume any financial responsibility, as doing so would amount to encouraging fraud. “All successive PAP administrations respected the findings of that inquiry, which made it clear that the affected students were never beneficiaries,” the statement emphasized. Oduma further noted that Dr. Otuaro has since expanded the PAP scholarship programme to widen access to education for ex-agitators and legitimate beneficiaries, while driving reforms aimed at bridging human capital gaps in the Niger Delta in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. L