Gbajabiamila Threatens ₦10bn Defamation Lawsuit Over Fraud Allegations

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has issued a formal demand for a public apology and retraction from Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, threatening a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit should he fail to comply within 72 hours.

This legal warning follows a press conference held on June 25, during which Adeyemi—who is currently facing criminal charges for allegedly operating a fictitious government body known as the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC)—leveled serious accusations against the Chief of Staff. In his remarks, Adeyemi accused Gbajabiamila of bribery, corruption, abuse of office, and involvement in criminal activities, even labeling him an “assassin.”

Legal representatives for Gbajabiamila, led by ‘Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), categorically dismissed the allegations as “false, reckless, and malicious.” The legal notice emphasized that the Chief of Staff has never had any professional or personal interaction with Adeyemi, characterizing the claims as a fabrication designed to malign his reputation.

Furthermore, the legal team criticized the move as an attempt to engage in “trial by media,” noting that Adeyemi is already a defendant in a federal court case involving allegations of forgery and the impersonation of government officials.

The demand requires Adeyemi to remove all materials related to the press conference from online platforms, issue a formal apology across five national newspapers, and provide a written undertaking to cease further defamatory publications. Failure to meet these conditions, the letter warns, will result in both civil litigation seeking ₦10 billion in damages and criminal defamation proceedings.

The controversy centers on the legitimacy of the PFIPC, an entity the Presidency maintains is fraudulent. While Adeyemi has pointed to budget allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act as evidence of the council’s existence, the Presidency insists the organization is illegitimate. Amid the dispute, human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for an independent investigation into the conduct of both parties.

Adeyemi is scheduled to appear in court on July 27, 2026, to face the pending criminal charges.