The National Secretariat of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR) has suspended its Vice President and Chairman of Delta State chapter of the group, Prince Kehinde Taiga, over multiple infringements on the constitution of the leading rights organization.
A letter signed by the President of CDHR, Dr Osagie Obayuwana stated that the group reached the resolution at a National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting held on August 8, 2020 in Benin City, where it was decided that Taiga be suspended for one year, following series of allegations, ranging from anti-association activities to aiding and abetting with fraudsters.
Taiga, was said to have, among many other offences, dragged the name of the association in the mud, by offering membership of CDHR, Delta State Branch, to persons involved in internet fraud, (Yahoo Boys), to provide cover for them to evade the law.
He was further accused of brokering bribery deals with the police to provide a front for the Yahoo Boys, an act which was said to be contrary to “Section 4 (2) and Section 24 (1) and (4) of the CDHR constitution (2005).”
The outgoing Vice President was also accused of high-handedness, as he was said to have, through a whatsap message, sometimes, talked down on the former Assistant Secretary, Delta State Chapter of the association, Israel Joe, an act which was said to be liable to sanctions under “Section 24 (1) and (4) and 4 (2) € of the constitution of the CDHR.”
NEC, according to a notice of suspension sent to the dethroned Vice President, decided to take the action, so as to “pave the way for the full and unhindered investigation of the allegations of misconduct and acts of indiscipline made against you as contained in the Report of the 3 member stakeholders committee dated 20th June 2020, based of which the query dated 13th August 2020 has been served to you.”
According to Obayuwana, the one-year suspension would enable the Delta State transition committee of the CDHR, appointed by its NEC, discharge its term of reference mandate without encumbrance.