The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called for an independent investigation into allegations linking the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to an alleged N27.4 billion bribery demand over the appointment of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, urging him to step aside while the probe is conducted.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National President, Yinka Folarin, and National Secretary, Idris Afees, the rights group said Gbajabiamila should voluntarily vacate his position temporarily to guarantee a transparent and credible investigation.
The organisation stressed that the call should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt but rather as a measure to protect the integrity of the investigative process and reinforce public confidence in government accountability.
According to the CDHR, asking the Chief of Staff to step aside would eliminate any perception of interference, demonstrate that no public official is above the law and strengthen public trust in the Federal Government's commitment to transparency.
The controversy stems from allegations made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed he was lawfully appointed Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council through a letter allegedly issued by the Chief of Staff. Matthew also accused Gbajabiamila of demanding N27.4 billion and receiving N400 million through proxies to facilitate his appointment.
The Federal Government, however, has accused Matthew of forgery, impersonation and other fraudulent activities in relation to the appointment.
Reacting to the development, the CDHR said both sets of allegations were serious enough to warrant a comprehensive investigation by independent law enforcement agencies.
The organisation condemned bribery, corruption, abuse of office, forgery and impersonation, insisting that public office must never be commercialised or used for personal enrichment.
It maintained that no public official, regardless of status or political influence, should be shielded from investigation whenever credible allegations of criminal conduct are made.
The rights group noted that if the allegations against either party are established, they would amount to a serious breach of public trust and further erode confidence in government institutions.
The CDHR also linked the controversy to Nigeria's broader anti-corruption challenges, lamenting that the country continues to suffer huge financial losses annually through bribery, abuse of office, procurement fraud and illicit financial flows.
It urged the Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to jointly carry out a transparent, impartial and independent investigation into all allegations surrounding the matter.
According to the organisation, the Presidency cannot credibly investigate a case involving one of its principal officials, stressing that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
The CDHR said it was aligning with the position of its Board of Trustees Chairman, Femi Falana, who had called for all parties involved in the controversy to face equal scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies without fear or favour.
The group further urged the DSS to investigate claims that the purported Presidential Economic Advisory Council, now reportedly described as non-existent, operated from the Federal Secretariat, interacted with government agencies, processed official financial transactions and was listed in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
It expressed concern over reports that the allegedly fictitious body appeared in the national budget with allocations running into billions of naira, saying such a development, if confirmed, would expose serious lapses in Nigeria's budgeting and financial control systems.
The CDHR 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 explain how the body allegedly obtained budgetary allocations, administrative recognition and Treasury Single Account processes without proper verification.
The organisation maintained that if the allegations of forgery, impersonation and fraud against Matthew are proven, he should be prosecuted in accordance with the law, adding that any public official found culpable after investigation should also face prosecution regardless of office or political affiliation.
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