The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called on the Federal Government to launch an independent investigation into allegations that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded N27.4bn and received N400m through proxies to facilitate the appointment of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
Matthew was quoted as making the counter-allegations against Gbajabiamila while claiming that he was legally appointed by the Federal Government through a letter purportedly issued by the Chief of Staff.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the CDHR said Gbajabiamila should voluntarily step aside as Chief of Staff pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
The statement, signed by the National President of the organisation, Yinka Folarin, and its National Secretary, Idris Afees, said the call should not be construed as a presumption of guilt but as a necessary step to ensure the credibility and impartiality of any investigation.
“To preserve the credibility and integrity of the investigation, and in keeping with constitutional principles of accountability and international best practices in public governance, CDHR calls on Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to voluntarily step aside as Chief of Staff to the President pending the conclusion of an independent investigation,” the statement partly read.
