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.
The threat was conveyed in a letter dated July 6, 2026, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, on behalf of Pinheiro LP, Gbajabiamila's legal representatives.
The dispute stems from a press conference held by Adeyemi on June 25, where he accused the Chief of Staff of demanding a share of the alleged take-off funds of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), receiving money through intermediaries, abusing his office and participating in efforts to conceal wrongdoing.
During the briefing, Adeyemi also described Gbajabiamila as "a murderer" and "an assassin."
Rejecting the allegations, Gbajabiamila's lawyers described them as "not only false but gravely defamatory."
The letter stated that the allegations were "designed to portray our client as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent, a murderer and unfit to occupy public office."
According to the legal team, Adeyemi is already standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja in FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors (Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026) over allegations that include the forgery of an appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila's purported signature and the alleged counterfeiting of Presidential letter-headed papers to present himself as a government official.
The lawyers also denied claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of a purported N27.4 billion take-off grant for the PFIPC, amounting to about N12.5 billion, or received N400 million through proxies connected to appointments within the council.
Other allegations rejected in the letter included claims that the Chief of Staff manipulated budget processes, intimidated individuals and media organisations, misused security agencies and carried out official duties while under the influence of intoxicating substances.
Gbajabiamila further denied ever having any 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 lawyers wrote.
They added that Adeyemi's 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 legal team also criticised the timing of the allegations, noting that they came after criminal proceedings had already been instituted against Adeyemi.
"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 stated.
It added: "Trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process."
Gbajabiamila's lawyers demanded that Adeyemi immediately cease making further defamatory statements, remove all related videos, recordings and transcripts from every platform, issue a full retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and across all social media platforms where the allegations were circulated, and provide a written undertaking not to repeat the claims.
They warned that failure to comply would result in criminal defamation proceedings under the laws of the Federal Capital Territory and a civil lawsuit seeking N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
According to the letter, any damages awarded would be donated to a charity chosen by Gbajabiamila. The proposed legal action would also seek a perpetual injunction and a court order compelling the publication of an apology.
The controversy centres on the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the title *Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council*. The body received more than N1.3 billion in budgetary allocations, including about N803 million for personnel, N200 million for overhead costs and N300 million for capital expenditure.
Adeyemi had argued during his June 25 press conference that an agency listed in a budget signed into law by the President could not be regarded as non-existent.
However, the Presidency has consistently maintained that the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation with no legal existence.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for an independent investigation into the controversy, arguing that the Presidency lacks the constitutional authority to clear anyone involved in the dispute.
Adeyemi is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 27, 2026.
