Gbajabiamila threatens N10bn defamation suit against Adeyemi over bribery, murder allegations

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened to institute a ₦10 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations linking him to bribery, murder and other criminal conduct.

 

The threat was conveyed in a letter dated July 6, 2026, signed by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) of Pinheiro LP, legal representatives to the Chief of Staff.

 

The letter followed a June 25 press conference at which Adeyemi, who is facing criminal charges over his alleged role in operating the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)—an organisation the Presidency has described as fictitious—accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the council’s alleged take-off grant, receiving money through proxies, abusing his office and participating in a cover-up.

 

Adeyemi also described the Chief of Staff as “a murderer” and “an assassin” during the briefing.

 

In the letter, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory, saying they were intended to portray him as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable and unfit for public office.

 

The legal team maintained that the Chief of Staff had never met or had any form of personal or official relationship with Adeyemi.

 

“You have never at any time met, interacted with, communicated with, or had any form of personal or official dealing whatsoever with him,” the letter stated.

 

The lawyers also noted that Adeyemi’s allegations were made after criminal charges had already been filed against him, describing the public statements as an attempt at “trial by media.”

 

They gave Adeyemi 72 hours to withdraw the allegations, remove all related videos, recordings and transcripts from all platforms, publish a full retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and across his social media platforms, and provide a written undertaking not to make further defamatory statements.

 

The letter 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 ₦10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, alongside a perpetual injunction and a court-ordered apology.

 

The PFIPC was listed in the 2026 Appropriation Act as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, with a budgetary allocation of over ₦1.3 billion.

 

Adeyemi has argued that the inclusion of the council in the Appropriation Act indicates that it exists, while the Presidency insists the organisation has no legal status and that documents used to support its operations were forged.

 

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called for an independent investigation into the allegations involving both Gbajabiamila and Adeyemi, maintaining that only the courts can determine criminal liability.

 

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