Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations linking him to murder, bribery, abuse of office and other criminal conduct.
According to a letter dated July 6, 2026, and signed by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) of Pinheiro LP, legal representatives to the Chief of Staff, Adeyemi was directed to immediately retract the allegations, issue a public apology and remove all related materials from every platform where they were published.
The legal action follows 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 funds through proxies, abusing his office and participating in a criminal cover-up.
During the briefing, Adeyemi also referred to the Chief of Staff as “a murderer” and “an assassin.”
The letter demands that Adeyemi remove all transcripts, videos and recordings of the press conference, publish a full retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and across all social media platforms used to disseminate the allegations, and provide a written undertaking that he will refrain from making further defamatory statements against Gbajabiamila.
Adeyemi is currently facing criminal charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors. He is accused of forgery, including allegedly forging an appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature and counterfeiting presidential letterheaded documents to present himself as a government official.
According to the letter, Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—a body the Presidency has described as non-existent—made nine defamatory allegations against the Chief of Staff.
Among the claims, Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila 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 proxies in connection with appointments linked to the council.
He also accused the Chief of Staff of intimidating individuals and media organisations, participating in fraudulent budget processes, attempting to misuse security agencies and carrying out official duties under the influence of intoxicating substances.
Gbajabiamila’s lawyers described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory, stating that they were intended to portray their client as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt and unfit for public office.
The legal team further maintained that Gbajabiamila had never met or communicated with Adeyemi in any personal or official capacity, arguing that the allegations were fabricated without any factual basis.
The letter also referenced the ongoing criminal proceedings against Adeyemi, describing his decision to make the allegations after charges had already been filed as an aggravating factor.
It stated that the matters raised during the June 25 press conference are already before the court and stressed that “trial by media” is not recognised under Nigerian law as a substitute for judicial proceedings.
The lawyers gave Adeyemi 72 hours from receipt of the letter to comply with the demands, warning that failure to do so would result in both criminal defamation proceedings under the laws of the Federal Capital Territory and a civil lawsuit seeking N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
The proposed civil action would also seek a perpetual injunction restraining further defamatory publications and a court order compelling Adeyemi to issue the demanded apology. According to the letter, any damages awarded would be donated to a charity selected by Gbajabiamila.
The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was listed in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and received budgetary allocations of more than N1.3 billion, including about N803 million for personnel costs, N200 million for overheads and N300 million for capital expenditure.
At the June 25 press conference, Adeyemi argued that the council could not be fictitious since it appeared in the presidentially assented appropriation law.
However, the Presidency has maintained that the council does not legally exist and described it as fraudulent.
Reacting to the controversy, human rights lawyer Femi Falana stated that the Presidency lacked the constitutional authority to clear anyone involved in the matter and called for an independent investigation into the allegations against both Gbajabiamila and Adeyemi.
Adeyemi is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court on July 27, 2026.
