Group absolves Gbajabiamila of wrongdoing

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

A group, the Initiative for Community Development, has absolved Femi Gbajabiamila, of wrongdoing in a N400 million bride allegation leveled against him by the Director-General of a “non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the group’s coordinator, Amadi Chindi, on behalf of over 300 civil society organisations, described the claim as baseless.

“We have carefully examined the claims and allegations of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and have seen that he is not telling the truth but wants to intentionally tarnish the image of the Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, without substantive evidence to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.”

He further alleged that the claims were aimed at whipping up public sentiment against the President’s Chief of Staff.

“We want to state categorically that these claims and allegations by Matthew are baseless. Despite calling sections of the media to brief them and claiming he was being intimidated, such emotions cannot help him because we know he is trying to whip up sentiments to drag the Chief of Staff into the mud with him, and we will not allow that to happen.”

Highlighting Gbajabiamila’s public service record, he described him as a globally respected parliamentarian whose tenure as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives was marked by landmark legislative reforms, including the restoration of Nigeria’s January–December budget cycle, the passage of key economic legislation and initiatives supporting persons with disabilities, students, and vulnerable Nigerians.

He, also, cited his sponsorship of several notable bills, including the Students’ Loan Bill, the Physically Challenged (Empowerment) Bill, the Criminalisation of Estimated Billing System Bill, the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill and the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill. It further praised his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, including legislative interventions, advocacy for social protection, and welfare initiatives.

According to him Gbajabiamila has demonstrated commitment to public service through leadership, legislative excellence and professional development, including executive education at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge and the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Reaffirming its confidence in the Chief of Staff, he maintained that he could not have authorised the establishment of any illegal or unconstitutional body.

“We unequivocally state that the Chief of Staff can not be unpatriotic to give a go-ahead to establish a non-existent establishment, which is illegal and unconstitutional.

Therefore, the lies against him are not to be taken seriously.”

He also called on relevant security agencies to investigate the matter.

“We, therefore, call for the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew because this matter is not to be handled with kid gloves, as the international community is watching Nigeria,” he added.