Crisis Rocks CDHR, National Vice President Suspended For Alleged Gross Misconduct

The crisis rocking the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR), took a new twist weekend as a section of National Executive Committee of the organisation, rejected the purported suspension of its National Vice President, Comrade Prince Kehinde Taiga from office for one year.

CDHR’s National President, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana had in a letter dated 13th August announced the suspension of his Vice President from office over alleged misconduct and acts of indiscipline.

“Sequel to the resolution of the National Executive Committee, NEC of the Committee for the Defence of Human Right, CDHR at its meeting held in Benin City, you have been suspended from office as vice president of the CDHR for one year”, he wrote.

Dr. Obayuwana said the suspension of the Vice President was,”to pave way for the full and unhindered investigation of allegations of misconduct and acts of indiscipline made against him (Taiga) as contained in the report of three (3) members of the stakeholders Committee dated 20th June, 2020 based on which the query dated 13th August, 2020 has been served on you.”

He added that the suspension was “to enable the Delta State Transition Committee appointed by NEC to discharge its terms if reference/mandate fully.”

But responding to the purported suspension, a section the National Executive Committee, (NEC), of the organisation, in an emergency session held on Saturday, 15 August, 2020 at Asaba, Delta State had dismissed the alleged suspension of Taiga.

A communique issued after the meeting was signed by NEC members comprising of the National Secretary, Comrade James Chibuzo Chikwendu, Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Kabir Ibrahim, Legal Adviser, Barr. Mrs. Violet Ekumankuma, National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Gerald Katchy and the Internal Auditor, Comrade Ayuba Musa.

“We the National Executive Members(NEC) of the Committee for the Defense of Human Right (CDHR) write to disclaimed the suspension of the National Vice-President, Comrade (Dr) Prince Kehinde Taiga as announced by the National President, Comrade(Dr) Osagie Obayuwana on 14th August 2020, part of the communique reads.

The communique, however, noted that the National President, Dr Obayuwana had hinged the purported suspension of the Vice-President on a NEC meeting purported to have been held on 8th August 2020 at Benin City and thereafter solely constituted a Transition Committee led by Barr. Godwin Umuko to pilot the affairs of CDHR in Delta State for one year.

The NEC which seem sympathetic to the Prince Taiga’s group pointed out that Dr. Obayuwana had earlier issued queries to Comrade Taiga’s led executives including Comrade Isreal Joe, Comrade Harrison Itulua, Comrade Jonathan Giama over alleged constitutional breaches, financial embezzlement and fraternization and registration of ‘Yahoo boys’ in the organization which they all denied.

Also, responding, Comrade Taiga in a counter reply dismissed his alleged suspension, saying that he remain in office as vice president of the organisation.