Victor Uwajeh, who was recently relieved of his appointment as a special anti-corruption investigator, has revealed the reason behind his sack.
He got the job in March and lost it barely two months after, with the government claiming that he was sacked for failing to disclose corruption cases against him while being considered for the job.
Before his appointment by the Presidential Panel for Recovery of Public Properties led by Okoi Obono-Obla, the London-based investigator had worked with the EFCC.
Uwajeh claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration sacked him because he refused to heed to a call by senior administration officials to focus only on opposition politicians.
Uwajeh, whose duties included investigating assets of Nigerian politically-exposed persons hidden abroad, said he refused to focus on opposition figures because it was against his principles.
In a statement, he said, “After meeting in London on 18th April, 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.
“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.”
He identified those he was asked to focus on as : Senate President Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Sen. Albert Akpan and Sen.Stella Oduah,
Others were: Atiku Abubakar, Femi Fani-Kayode, James Manager, Nyesom Wike, Jonah Jang and Patience Jonathan.
He said when he told Obono-Obla that he wanted to go after alleged looters in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his request was turned down.
He stated, “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.
“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 work with the APC-led government to humiliate the so-called enemies of government has led me into exile.”
He added, “As soon as they arrived Nigeria on the 23rd April, 2018 they drafted a letter to disengage me. They kept the letter and wanted me to change my mind but I refused. On the 27th April, 2018, they sent me a backdated letter of disengagement dated 23rd April 2018.
“In the said letter it was alleged that I had a criminal allegation against me pending in court as the reason for my disengagement which is laughable.
“Any right-thinking person should question why it took the government of President Buhari a full month to know that I 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.”