"I was sacked from presidential panel because I refused to probe Saraki, Ekweremadu"

Victor Uwajeh, a private investigator, says he was disengaged from the Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property because he refused to probe Senate President Bukola Saraki and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

Uwajeh was appointed to the panel to track stolen funds stashed in the UK in March but he was disengaged on April 23.

The investigator was said to have been fired for failing to disclose a criminal charge pending against him.

The federal government had filed a four-count criminal charge bordering on forgery, impersonation, fraud and illegally procuring forged documents against him.

In a statement on Tuesday, Uwajeh said though the mandate given to him was to track assets of politically exposed persons, he realised that the panel had its agenda.

“This was also followed by a memorandum of understanding dated 3rd April 2018 and signed by the Chairman of the Panel Okoi Obono Obla. Subsequent upon these I started working for the panel to trace assets of politically exposed persons in line with the mandate given to me in the documents executed,” the statement read.

“It was the procedure of the Panel to courier documents to me from Nigeria for despatch to various Agencies in the United Kingdom and worldwide. Soon after I realised that the Panel has a mindset towards certain individuals and groups by the documents it sent to me.

“Documents sent to me from Abuja to despatch to the Serious Fraud Office and Home Office, Metropolitan Police, FBI and EUROPOL had the names of the following senators; Senate President Bukola Saraki, deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu, senator Albert Bassey Akpan, senator Stella Adaeze Oduah.

“I was also given a list which includes former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Femi Fani Kayode, senator James Manager, governor Nyesom Wike and senator Jonah Jang, Patience Jonathan amongst others.

“Most people who were already being tried by the EFCC were also singled out by the SIPP for investigation which calls to question the motives of Government as regards effective prosecution.”

The investigator said he recommended the investigation of some of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but it was turned down.

“This raised a red flag and as a professional I made my complaint immediately and made my position known to Okoi Obono Obla to transmit to the attorney-general and minister of justice,” it read.

“I told him that I will not be a party to one sided investigation to muscle in the opposition and persecute them I made my position known that I am ready to expose corruption and recover stolen assets as a professional but will not be involved in the politics of ‘pull them down’ in Nigeria. My refusal to dance to the tune of the government and SIPP led to my disengagement.”

He wondered why it took the government a “full month” to realise that he had a case in court.

“My refusal has led to sustained assault on my person by the attorney-general and minister of justice Abubakar Malami. My refusal to work with the APC led government to humiliate the so-called enemies of Government has led me into exile,” it read.

“The Nigeria Police led by Ibrahim Kpotun Idris has continued to side with senator Emmanuel Nnamdi uba (Andy Uba) to stop him from paying me my professional fees. IGP Ibrahim Idris is an expert in setting people up and twisting issues to incriminate his enemies.

“Abubakar Malami, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris and Mohammed Etsu should note that they cannot continue to be in this position forever and remember that power is transient. Nigeria can only move forward when the fight against corruption is not selective but holistic no matter whose ox is gored.”

The federal high court in Abuja on Tuesday issued a warrant for his arrest.