The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has demanded an immediate retraction of allegations linking him to bribery, murder and other criminal activities, threatening to institute a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit against the promoter of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, if the claims are not withdrawn.
The demand was conveyed through a letter dated July 6, 2026, written by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, on behalf of Pinheiro LP, legal representatives to the Chief of Staff.
The letter followed a press conference held by Adeyemi on June 25, during which he accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the PFIPC’s alleged take-off grant, receiving funds through proxies, abusing his office and participating in a criminal cover-up.
Adeyemi also described the Chief of Staff as “a murderer” and “an assassin” during the media briefing.
However, Gbajabiamila’s legal team dismissed the allegations as entirely false, malicious and defamatory, insisting they were calculated to damage his reputation and integrity.
According to the letter, the allegations portray the Chief of Staff “as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent, a murderer and unfit to occupy public office.”
The lawyers further noted that Adeyemi is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors, over allegations including forgery of documents purportedly linked to the Presidency and the alleged falsification of Gbajabiamila’s signature.
The letter also referenced claims made during the press conference that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the council’s alleged ₦27.4 billion take-off grant—estimated at about ₦12.5 billion—and received ₦400 million through proxies connected with appointments associated with the council.
Rejecting the allegations, the legal team maintained that Gbajabiamila had never had any form of relationship or communication 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 decision to fabricate and publish allegations against a person with whom you have had absolutely no relationship or interaction underscores the reckless, baseless and malicious nature of your publication,” the letter stated.
The lawyers also argued that Adeyemi resorted to making the allegations after criminal charges had already been filed against him, describing the move as an attempt to influence public opinion outside the courtroom.
“It is even more disturbing to our client that you resorted to defaming him through your press statements after a criminal Charge had been filed against you,” the letter added.
Emphasising the need for due process, the legal representatives said, “Trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process.”
Gbajabiamila consequently gave Adeyemi 72 hours from receipt of the letter to remove all allegedly defamatory materials, including videos, recordings and transcripts, from every platform where they were published.
He also demanded a full retraction and public apology to be published in at least five national newspapers and across all social media platforms used to circulate the allegations, alongside a written undertaking that no further defamatory statements would be made against him.
The letter warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would leave the Chief of Staff with no option but to commence legal proceedings seeking ₦10 billion in damages for defamation.
