Disengaged special investigator to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Evangelist Victor Uwajeh, has alleged that his recent removal was because he refused to investigate some serving senators, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, and other opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts. Uwajeh also mentioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike, Senator Jonah Jang, Patience Jonathan, Femi Fani- Kayode amongst those he was asked to investigate. Uwajeh, a private investigator and former consultant to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was recently employed by Okoi Obono Obla-led presidential panel, but was disengaged about a month later.
Giving the reasons for his disengagement in a statement yesterday in Abuja, Uwajeh alleged that his refusal to act on the courier document sent to him from Nigeria by the government, which comprised some names perceived to be enemies of the current administration, was responsible for his disengagement, Uwajeh, however, said he insisted that alleged high profile looters should also be investigated. .The statement read in part: “It was the procedure of the panel to courier documents to me from Nigeria for dispatch 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 dispatch to the Serious Fraud Office and Home Office, Metropolitan Police, FBI and EUROPOL had the names of the following senators: Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan and Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah.” Uwajeh revealed that he had suggested some names of APC members “who are high looters that I recommended for proper investigation, but it was turned down.”
“This raised a red fl ag 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. “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 him down’ in Nigeria”. Continuing, he said: “My refusal to dance to the tune of the government and SIPP led to my disengagement. After meeting in London on April 18, 2018, with some officials during the CHOGM, it was evident that I will not bulge in my position not to go against the ethics of my profession by investigating only the opposition.
“As soon as they arrived in Nigeria on April 23, 2018, they drafted a letter to disengage me. They kept the letter and wanted me to change my mind, but I refused. On April 27, 2018, they sent me a back-dated letter of disengagement dated April 23, 2018.
