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Jonathan sacked me after I refused to release subsidy scam suspect despite phone call saying ‘he is our person’- Waziri

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Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farida Waziri, has alleged that her sack by former president Goodluck Jonathan was due to her refusal to back down during an investigation of an oil subsidy scam suspect close to the then administration even after a call from the Presidency to her saying “he is our person”.

Waziri alleged that the EFCC under Jonathan was not given free hand to operate, saying it became clear to her during the probe of the fuel subsidy scam.

She said, in retrospect, she remains glad to have been sacked, considering the revelations of massive corruption that took place in the administration which would have traumatized her had she remained in charge.

A statement on Sunday quoted her as saying this during an interaction with journalists at an unnamed event, which she attended in Lagos at the weekend.

She was said to have been asked to react to the revelation about the alleged massive corruption that characterized the Jonathan administration.

Read also: Adeosun confirms Magu, EFCC lied, says Ikoyi whistleblower to be paid ‘within current month’

“I’m only glad that those things didn’t happen under my watch as the EFCC Chairman because it would have been too traumatic for me. And that is why if I see President Jonathan today, I will kneel down to thank him for the honour done me by removing me as the EFCC Chairman at the time he did.

“My first strong premonition of what was ahead was when I began the probe of the monumental oil subsidy fraud going on then.

“I came to Lagos on a vital intelligence on the subsidy scam and as soon as I arrested a key culprit I got a call from the Presidential Villa asking me to release the suspect, because, in their words, ‘he is our person’, but I refused to let him off and days after I was removed from office,” Waziri was quoted to have said.

 

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