Gbajabiamila threatens N10bn defamation suit against Adeyemi over allegations

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened legal action against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations linking him to murder, bribery, abuse of office and other criminal acts, demanding N10 billion in damages for defamation.

In a letter dated July 6, 2026, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kemi Pinheiro, on behalf of Pinheiro LP, Gbajabiamila’s legal team described the allegations as false, malicious and damaging to the reputation of the presidential aide.

The legal notice followed a press conference held by Adeyemi on June 25, during which he accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the alleged take-off grant of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), receiving money through proxies, abusing his office and participating in a criminal cover-up. He also referred to the Chief of Staff as “a murderer” and “an assassin.”

Adeyemi is currently facing criminal charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged role in operating the PFIPC, which the Presidency has consistently described as a fictitious government agency.

According to court documents in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Others, Adeyemi is accused of forgery, including allegedly forging an appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature and counterfeiting presidential letter-headed documents to present himself as a government official.

In the demand letter, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers identified nine separate allegations made by Adeyemi during the press briefing, including claims that the Chief of Staff demanded 48 per cent of the council’s purported N27.4 billion take-off grant, amounting to about N12.5 billion, and received N400 million through intermediaries in connection with appointments linked to the body.

Adeyemi also alleged that Gbajabiamila used his office to intimidate individuals and media organisations, influenced budget processes for personal gain, attempted to deploy security agencies for improper purposes and may have carried out official duties while under the influence of intoxicating substances.

The lawyers dismissed the claims as entirely false and defamatory, arguing that they were intended to portray their client as corrupt, criminal, morally bankrupt and unfit for public office.

Gbajabiamila further maintained that he had never met, communicated or had any dealings with Adeyemi, describing the allegations as baseless and deliberately fabricated.

The letter also noted that the allegations were made after criminal charges had already been filed against Adeyemi, arguing that the press conference amounted to an attempt to influence public opinion while legal proceedings were pending.

The Chief of Staff’s legal team gave Adeyemi 72 hours to comply with a series of demands, including ceasing further defamatory statements, removing all related videos, transcripts and recordings from every platform, publishing a full retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and across all social media platforms where the allegations were circulated, and providing a written undertaking not to make similar allegations in the future.

The lawyers warned that failure to comply would result in both criminal defamation proceedings under the laws of the Federal Capital Territory and a civil suit seeking N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, which they said would be donated to a charity chosen by Gbajabiamila. They also indicated they would seek a perpetual injunction and a court order compelling a public apology.

The controversy centres on the PFIPC, which appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the designation Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and was allocated more than N1.3 billion, comprising about N803 million for personnel, N200 million for overhead costs and N300 million for capital projects.

At his June 25 press conference, Adeyemi argued that the inclusion of the council in the budget signed by the President demonstrated that it was a legitimate government entity. However, the Presidency has maintained that the council is fraudulent and has no legal existence.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called for an independent investigation into the matter, arguing that the Presidency lacks the constitutional authority to determine the innocence or guilt of those involved.

Adeyemi is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 27, 2026.