Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened legal action against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, demanding N10 billion in damages over what he described as false and defamatory allegations linking him to corruption, bribery, murder and other criminal activities.
The threat was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, on behalf of Pinheiro LP, the legal representatives of Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila Demands Retraction, Apology Within 72 Hours
According to the letter, the legal team accused Adeyemi of making a series of false and malicious statements during a press conference that was widely circulated across print, electronic and social media platforms.
The lawyers argued that the allegations portrayed Gbajabiamila as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent, a murderer and unfit to hold public office.
Among the claims challenged in the letter were allegations that the Chief of Staff demanded 48 per cent of the alleged take-off grant for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, received N400 million through proxies in connection with appointments, abused his office to intimidate individuals and media organisations, manipulated government processes, misused security agencies, and engaged in criminal conduct, including murder and an alleged cover-up.
The legal team described the allegations as entirely false, reckless and defamatory, insisting they lacked any factual basis and were intended to damage the reputation and integrity of their client.
As part of its demands, Pinheiro LP directed Adeyemi to immediately stop making or publishing any further defamatory statements against Gbajabiamila, remove the disputed press conference and all related materials from every platform under his control, and publish a full, unequivocal and unreserved retraction and apology within 72 hours.
The lawyers also insisted that the apology must receive the same prominence as the original allegations by appearing in at least five national newspapers, across all media platforms where the statements were published, and on every social media account used to disseminate them.
In addition, Adeyemi was asked to provide a written undertaking assuring that he would refrain from making further defamatory statements against the Chief of Staff.
The letter warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would leave Gbajabiamila with no option but to commence both criminal and civil proceedings.
According to the legal team, the proposed action would include a criminal complaint for alleged criminal defamation under the laws applicable in the Federal Capital Territory and a civil suit seeking N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
The lawyers stated that any damages awarded would be donated to charities selected by Gbajabiamila.
They also indicated they would seek a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyemi from making further defamatory publications, as well as a mandatory court order compelling him to publish a retraction and apology.
The legal action follows a press conference held by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi on June 25, during which he accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the alleged take-off funds for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, receiving money through intermediaries, abusing his office and participating in efforts to conceal alleged wrongdoing.
