The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has defended the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, against corruption allegations levelled against him in recent times.
Gbajabiamila was recently accused of underhand dealings in the scandals that swept away the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Beta Edu.
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The Speaker spoke in solidarity with his predecessor during a press conference at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Thursday.
Abbas, who called on security agencies to probe the allegations and make their findings public, however, called for stiffer sanctions for those behind the allegations in the event that nothing is found against the former Speaker.
He said, “While we encourage freedom of expression and constructive dialogue, we must also be wary of the dangers of fake news and campaigns of slander and defamation, especially against the President and senior government officials.
“There has been a rise in defamation campaigns on social media involving the deliberate dissemination of false and misleading information with the intent to harm the reputation of individuals or organisations. These campaigns often target political opponents, seeking to undermine their credibility, integrity, and public trust.
“The recent unjustified and baseless allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, point to the danger of an unfettered and unaccountable social media. Such acts not only undermine the integrity of our democracy but also erode the fabric of our national unity. Yet, Femi is just one of millions of Nigerians who suffer cyberbullying and coordinated campaigns of defamation daily. Too many victims are not as powerful as him to defend themselves.
“Those of us who have worked with him for over a decade can attest to his patriotism and integrity. His willingness to voluntarily subject himself to an investigation by all security and law enforcement agencies demonstrates his rectitude and honour. I urge the security agencies to work diligently and swiftly to investigate all matters he has raised in his letter to them and inform Nigerians of their findings. If not found guilty, these agencies must fish out those responsible for the character assassination and ensure they are brought before the law.
“It is most unfortunate that someone who has, over the years, built a reputation through dint of hard work and commitment to service should have the same damaged by unscrupulous elements. The consistent attempt to pull him down for purely political or personal reasons and without consequence is deeply deplorable,” Abbas added.