In a move that has sparked widespread criticism, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of Nigeria's Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), allegedly orchestrated the unlawful arrest and detention of Owous, a vocal critic and advocate for transparency within the programme. Source reports that Owous was taken into custody on June 6, 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on the orders of Otuaro, prompting concerns about the misuse of authority and suppression of dissent.

Following his appointment in March 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, Otuaro replaced retired Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu, whose interim leadership had been seen as more transparent. Owous, who previously served as the National Chairman of the Reformed Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum, had recently called out the management of the Amnesty Programme, demanding accountability and increased stipends for beneficiaries. His public appeals for reform seemingly angered Otuaro, allegedly leading to his retaliatory detention.

Eyewitnesses confirm that Owous was apprehended by heavily armed officers from the Bayelsa State Police Command at Sports Complex Road, an area locally known as Kpofada Police Outfit. He was subsequently transferred to Abuja, where he has been placed in solitary confinement at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) facility in a move critics describe as both clandestine and politically motivated.

Sources suggest that Otuaro’s animosity towards Owous stems from the latter’s persistent calls for accountability and his efforts to highlight alleged misappropriation of funds within the programme. Owous had issued letters to senior security officials, including the Chief of Army Staff and the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), warning of plans to lead peaceful protests against systemic corruption and infiltration within the Amnesty Office. 

In response to these allegations, Otuaro reportedly filed a petition on May 29, 2025, which served as the basis for Owous’s subsequent detention. Legal sources reveal that security agents have sealed all access to Owous, denying him legal representation and isolating him, actions lawyers and human rights advocates condemn as highly suspicious.

Owuos was allegedly moved in secret to a Magistrate Court in Dutsen, Abuja, where bail applications were reportedly denied under questionable circumstances. He remains remanded at Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State, with no formal charges presented, raising questions about the legitimacy of the process.

Legal counsel for Owous, Seprebofa Oyeghe, has accused security forces of blocking all legal access to his client, asserting that the detention amounts to political persecution. “He has been denied legal representation, kept in isolation, and is being treated as a political prisoner,” Oyeghe stated.

The police report, dated June 23, 2025, obtained by source , details Otuaro’s accusations against Owous: conspiracy, defamation, and spreading falsehoods intended to tarnish his reputation. The petition, received by the police's Force Intelligence Department, claims that Owous conspired with unknown individuals to smear Otuaro’s name on social media, alleging mismanagement, misappropriation of funds, and mishandling of resources allocated for the welfare of ex-agitators.

The police report further alleges that Owous's social media posts, including messages on WhatsApp, were deliberately crafted to incite unrest and tarnish Otuaro’s image, with the intent of destabilizing the programme’s leadership. The document cites specific sections of the Penal Code — including conspiracy and defamation — to justify the charges.

Despite repeated attempts to reach Otuaro's spokesperson, the Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Coordinator, Igoniko Oduma, did not respond to calls or messages for comment. Critics argue that the actions taken against Owous highlight a troubling pattern of suppression by Otuaro, casting serious doubts on the integrity of the current leadership of the Amnesty Programme.