JUST IN: Gbajabiamila Sues Adeyemi For ₦15bn Over Alleged Defamatory Claims

By Onoja Baba

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over allegations that he demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a ₦27.3 billion take off grant approved for a federal agency.

In the suit, Gbajabiamila is seeking ₦10 billion in general damages, ₦5 billion in aggravated damages, ₦200 million as the cost of the action, and an order compelling Adeyemi to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers and across all social media platforms where the alleged defamatory statements were made.

Court documents obtained by Channels Television showed that the Chief of Staff denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi or authorising anyone to demand or receive money on his behalf.

The suit, filed by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, alongside fellow SANs Folu Oguntade, Olukayode Enitan and Chukwudi Enebeli, described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.

The legal action followed claims made by Adeyemi during a press conference in which he alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent kickback from the ₦27.3 billion take off grant of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). Adeyemi further claimed that ₦400 million was paid through an intermediary, with an additional ₦200 million allegedly requested to facilitate presidential approvals.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement on oath before the court, denied the allegations, insisting he had no personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi. He also denied demanding or receiving money, abusing his office or interfering with law enforcement agencies.

The Chief of Staff further rejected allegations linking him to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, who was allegedly presented as an intermediary in the transaction, as well as claims that he was involved in an assassination attempt on Adeyemi or interfered with investigations by security agencies.

According to the court documents, Gbajabiamila’s solicitors issued a cease and desist letter to Adeyemi on July 6, 2026, demanding an immediate retraction and apology. The letter was subsequently published in national newspapers the following day.

However, the claimant alleged that instead of withdrawing the allegations, Adeyemi granted further interviews, including one with social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and another appearance on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* programme on July 13, where he repeated the claims.

Gbajabiamila told the court that during one of the interviews, Adeyemi admitted he had never met him personally or independently verified the identity of the individual he believed to be the Chief of Staff, stating that all communications were allegedly conducted through the late Tanimola.

Despite that admission, the claimant argued that Adeyemi continued to publicly repeat the allegations, causing further damage to his reputation.

The court documents also disclosed that Adeyemi is currently facing a separate criminal trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of forging presidential documents and appointment letters in connection with the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

The criminal charges followed his arrest by the Nigeria Police Force after authorities described the PFIPC as a non existent government body. Adeyemi has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Gbajabiamila told the court that the allegations had harmed his personal and professional reputation, describing them as false accusations of corruption, bribery, and abuse of office.

He said he opted to seek judicial redress rather than engage in a media exchange, adding that the lawsuit was aimed at protecting both his reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The FCT High Court has directed Adeyemi to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served with the originating processes, failing which judgment may be entered against him in default.