The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has called on security agencies to diligently investigate allegations leveled against the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The speaker gave the charge on Thursday while addressing a press conference on the state of the nation.
Gbajabiamila has been at the centre of allegations of graft involving suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
Addressing the citizens, Abbas urged Nigerians to desist from fake news but welcomed constructive criticism to make government officials more accountable.
He said, “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.
“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 hard work and commitment to service, should be damaged by unscrupulous elements. The consistent attempt to pull him down for purely political or personal reasons and without consequence is deeply deplorable.”