Gbajabiamila Sues PFIPC’s Adeniyi Adeyemi for ₦15bn Over Alleged Defamation

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has instituted a ₦15 billion defamation lawsuit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who has been described in court documents as the head of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), over allegations of bribery and abuse of office. (Vanguard News)

The suit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, seeks ₦10 billion in general damages, ₦5 billion in aggravated damages, and ₦200 million as the cost of the legal action. Gbajabiamila is also asking the court to compel Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers and on all platforms where the allegations were circulated. (TheCable)

The legal action follows allegations by Adeyemi that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 percent kickback from a purported ₦27.3 billion take-off grant approved for the agency. Adeyemi also alleged that ₦400 million had been paid through a proxy and that an additional ₦200 million was requested to secure presidential approvals. (Vanguard News)

In the court filings, Gbajabiamila categorically denied all the allegations, insisting that he has never met or communicated with Adeyemi and never authorized anyone to demand or receive money on his behalf. His legal team described the claims as false, malicious, and defamatory, arguing that they have seriously damaged both his personal reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff. (Vanguard News)

According to the court documents, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers had earlier issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding a retraction and apology. They contend that Adeyemi continued repeating the allegations in subsequent media appearances despite receiving the notice, prompting the lawsuit. (Premium Times Nigeria)

The case is expected to be heard before the FCT High Court, where the court will determine the merits of the allegations and the defamation claims.