PFIPC scandal: CDHR demands Gbajabiamila step aside pending probe

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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The human rights group said the demand that the Chief of Staff 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.

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Condemning 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.

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The group 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.

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According to the CDHR, the allegations made by both the Federal Government and Matthew are serious and warrant a thorough investigation.

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“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.

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“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.

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The organisation also linked the controversy to Nigeria’s broader anti-corruption challenges, noting that the country continues to rank poorly on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

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“Billions of naira are reportedly lost annually through bribery, procurement fraud, abuse of office, illicit financial flows and other financial crimes, depriving millions of Nigerians of quality education, healthcare, security, infrastructure and economic opportunities,” it added.

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The CDHR urged the Federal Government to direct the Department of State Services, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to commence a coordinated, transparent, impartial and independent investigation into all the allegations made by the parties involved.

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According to the group, the Presidency cannot credibly serve as investigator, prosecutor and judge in a matter involving one of its principal officers, insisting that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to have been done.

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The organisation also aligned itself with the position of the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Femi Falana (SAN), who has called for all parties involved in the matter to be subjected to the same level of scrutiny by the relevant anti-corruption agencies without fear, favour or political consideration.

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The CDHR further urged the DSS to investigate how the purportedly non-existent Presidential Economic Advisory Council allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat, interacted with government institutions, accessed official financial processes and appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite now being described as fictitious.

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The group said it was disturbed by reports that an entity now described as fictitious allegedly appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with budgetary allocations running into billions of naira.

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“If established, this exposes serious weaknesses in Nigeria’s budgeting, financial control and institutional verification systems,” the statement said.

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It therefore called on the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria to publicly explain how the entity allegedly secured budgetary allocations, administrative recognition, Treasury Single Account processes and other official documentation without proper verification.

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The CDHR added that if the allegations of forgery, impersonation and fraud against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew are established, he should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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Similarly, it said any public official found culpable after investigation should face the full weight of the law, irrespective of office, political affiliation or influence.

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