Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to step aside pending the outcome of Federal Government’s investigation on the appointment of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, PFIPC.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, said it was necessary for the FG to launch an independent investigation into the allegations against Gbajabiamila by Adeyemi.
Recall that Adeyemi had made 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.
The Rights Group in a statement issued on Sunday, said Gbajabiamila should voluntarily step aside as Chief of Staff pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
Yinka Folarin, the National President of the organisation and its National Secretary, Idris Afees, in a signed statement, 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.
It also demanded that the CoS should temporarily step down from office was intended to eliminate any perception of interference, safeguard the integrity of the investigative process, reassure Nigerians that no public official is above the law, and reinforce public confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The Group condemned bribery, corruption, abuse of office, forgery and impersonation, the organisation stressed that public office is a sacred trust and must never be turned into a commercial enterprise where appointments are bought and sold.
It further maintained that no public official, regardless of status or political influence, should be shielded from investigation where credible allegations of criminal conduct have been made.
According to the CDHR, the allegations made by both the Federal Government and Matthew are serious and warrant a thorough investigation.
“The allegations on both sides are grave. While the Federal Government alleges forgery, impersonation, fraudulent operation of bank accounts and misrepresentation, the defendant has levelled equally weighty allegations of bribery and abuse of office against one of the country’s highest-ranking public officials.
“If either set of allegations is proven, it represents a serious assault on the integrity of public institutions and further diminishes public confidence in governance,” the group stated.