The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has asked the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to voluntarily step aside to allow for an independent investigation into corruption allegations levelled against his office.
The call follows counter-allegations made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claims that Gbajabiamila demanded ₦27.4bn and received ₦400m in exchange for facilitating his appointment as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Matthew maintains that he was legally appointed through documentation allegedly issued by the Chief of Staff’s office.
In a statement released on Sunday, the CDHR leadership, represented by National President Yinka Folarin and National Secretary Idris Afees, emphasized that the demand for the Chief of Staff to step down is necessary to ensure the impartiality of the investigative process.
The group stated that the move would eliminate perceptions of interference, safeguard the integrity of the probe, and restore public confidence in the administration’s commitment to accountability.
The rights organization highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that the Federal Government has accused Matthew of forgery, impersonation, and fraudulent operation of bank accounts, while Matthew has accused a top-ranking official of bribery and abuse of office. “If either set of allegations is proven, it represents a serious assault on the integrity of public institutions,” the group noted.
The CDHR urged the federal government to mandate the Department of State Services (DSS), the EFCC, the ICPC, and the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a coordinated, transparent, and independent inquiry.
The group further questioned how a purportedly non-existent entity, the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, allegedly secured budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act, gained access to official financial processes, and maintained an office at the Federal Secretariat.
Calling for a broader review of the government’s financial controls, the CDHR demanded that the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Central Bank of Nigeria explain how such an entity received administrative and budgetary recognition without proper verification.
The organization concluded by stressing that justice must be pursued regardless of the status or political influence of the individuals involved.
