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A civil society group, Democratic Renaissance for United Nigeria (DRUN) has called on the federal government to consider “a sensible compensation” for Chief Victor Uwajeh, the man allegedly persecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Mrs. Farida Waziri for demanding for payment for the service rendered on behalf of the commission.
The group which also asked that the former EFCC boss be investigated and prosecuted for alleged official recklessness, corruption and deliberate undermining of democratic ethos and rights of individuals said the case of Uwajeh is an apt example of what the era of Waziri characterised at the EFCC.
Chairman of the Group, Olatunbosun Olanshile and Secretary, Chinedu Onuoha, said in a statement that in civilised climes, what happened to Uwajeh would never go unpunished because of its implications, chief amongst which is “killing the patriotic spirit” of Nigerians to show commitment to anything that is of their fatherland.
While commending the court for adjudicating well in the case that lasted over three years as well as the EFCC leadership under Ibrahim Lamorde for not tampering with the course of justice, the group said “only strong men like Uwajeh could have survived such injustice because he was in the wilderness for three years and nine months for merely demanding for his rights.
“The period accounted for very dark days in his life because not only were his accounts frozen and property seized, he barely could survive with his family thrown into needless torture for just being a patriotic Nigerian. In fact, he lost his mother in the crisis because she could not stand the pains her son was going through. Or has it become a sin to accept to work for one’s country and demand payment afterwards as agreed to? Waziri was mean and inhuman and government should not let this pass-by just like that.
“She subverted all democratic means just to decimate a man who innocently bought into an idea he thought could enhance the country’s fight against graft and promote the leadership of the EFCC under her. But Waziri was too greedy to see the long term reward of such a venture and because the amount demanded was mouth-watering, she wanted to corner it all and therefore sent an innocent man to the limbo. She needs to learn a lesson from this as well as others who may want to travel that road,” the group said.
An Abuja High Court had penultimate Thursday discharged and acquitted Uwajeh of alleged charges of impersonating a staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, who handed down the judgment, held that the entire case of impersonation, forgery and extortion against the accused (Uwajeh) was all predicated on suspicion and therefore dismissed it.
In his delivery, Ogajwu was of the opinion that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused from all the evidences before the court and on the basis of that, discharged and acquitted Uwajeh.
“The court holds that the prosecution failed to prove the case of forgery, extortion and impersonation beyond reasonable doubts. The prosecution also failed to prove its case as none of the witnesses, testified that the accused was directly linked to any act of forgery, impersonation and extortion.
“The prosecution also failed throughout the duration of the case to present petitions written against the accused by any individual or group of persons. The six-count criminal charge dated January 13, 2010, fails and is hereby struck out. The accused is discharged and acquitted,” the court held.
Uwajeh who was arraigned on charges of forgery, impersonation, extortion and false issuance of fake EFCC complimentary cards to defraud members of the public had shown proof that he was duly engaged by the EFCC through a letter dated November 3, 2008, to investigate Politically Exposed Persons and Agencies of Government before the EFCC turned against him the moment he demanded for his professional fees.
Attempts to plead innocent to the charges did not yield as the EFCC had kept him in cell for sometime before charging him to court. Convinced that he was being unjustly treated, coupled with several petitions to the authorities, including President Goodluck Jonathan, Uwajeh pressed on with the case despite alleged threats and intimidation until the case was finally done with some weeks ago.
