- Gbajabiamila Sues PFIPC DG Claimant for ₦15bn Over Alleged Defamatory Claims
- The Chief of Staff denied all kickback and corruption allegations against him.
- He is seeking damages, a public apology and retraction of the claims.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the self styled Director General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), over allegations linking him to an alleged kickback demand.
The suit, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, followed claims by Adeyemi that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 percent kickback from a purported ₦27.3 billion take off grant approved for the disputed agency.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Gbajabiamila is seeking ₦10 billion in general damages and ₦5 billion in aggravated damages for what he described as false, malicious and defamatory statements.
He is also asking the court to award ₦200 million as the cost of prosecuting the suit.
In addition, the Chief of Staff is requesting an order directing Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and unconditional apology in five national newspapers.
He also wants the apology pinned for 30 days across all social media platforms and online channels where the allegations were published.
The suit was filed through a legal team from Pinheiro LP led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, alongside Folu Oguntade, SAN, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, and Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN.
Gbajabiamila Denies Allegations
In the statement of claim, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting, speaking with or maintaining any personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi.
“The claimant has never met the defendant, never held any meeting with him and has never authorised any intermediary, representative, agent or proxy to demand or receive money on his behalf,” the court filing stated.
He also denied authorising anyone to negotiate or receive financial benefits on his behalf in connection with the alleged agency.
Adeyemi had claimed during a press conference that a dispute arose after Gbajabiamila allegedly demanded 48 percent of the agency’s proposed ₦27.3 billion take off grant.
He further alleged that ₦400 million had already been paid through a proxy for the Chief of Staff and that an additional ₦200 million was required to secure presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila denied receiving the alleged ₦400 million, the purported outstanding ₦200 million or any other payment from Adeyemi or his associates, insisting that the allegations of bribery, corruption and abuse of office were entirely fabricated.
Rejects Claims Linking Him To Death, Attack
The suit also addressed Adeyemi’s claims involving the late Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as an intermediary between himself and the Chief of Staff.
Adeyemi alleged that Tanimola died in a suspicious fire at Kachi Hotel, Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, one day after Gbajabiamila reportedly petitioned the police over the PFIPC controversy.
He also claimed he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt along the Abuja Kaduna Expressway in September 2025.
Adeyemi further alleged that a “directive from above” prevented the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force from recovering mobile phones he claimed contained evidence relating to the matter.
Gbajabiamila denied any involvement in Tanimola’s death, the alleged assassination attempt or the disappearance of the phones.
He also denied directing the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission or any other security agency to harass, intimidate or interfere with investigations involving Adeyemi.
The Chief of Staff further rejected claims that he intimidated media organisations or abused his office to silence the PFIPC claimant.
Defendant Ignored Demand To Retract Claims
According to the court documents, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers issued Adeyemi a cease and desist notice dated July 6, 2026, demanding a retraction of the allegations and a public apology.
The notice was published in several national newspapers on July 7.
The claimant argued that instead of retracting the allegations, Adeyemi granted an interview to social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
Gbajabiamila said Adeyemi admitted during the interview that he had never met him physically or communicated with him through a video call.
According to the suit, Adeyemi acknowledged that all communications allegedly occurred through the late Tanimola and admitted he had no independent means of confirming that the individual he believed he was dealing with was actually the Chief of Staff.
The claimant further argued that Adeyemi stated he could neither conclude that Gbajabiamila was lying nor confirm that he was telling the truth, a position he said contradicted the categorical allegations made during the earlier press conference.
Gbajabiamila also alleged that Adeyemi repeated the accusations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on July 13, 2026, despite receiving the cease and desist notice.
He maintained that the repeated allegations amounted to a deliberate campaign of falsehood that damaged his personal and professional reputation, triggering widespread public enquiries from friends, political associates and professional colleagues both within and outside Nigeria.
Suit Filed To Protect Reputation
Gbajabiamila told the court that he deliberately refrained from engaging in media exchanges because he believed the judiciary was the appropriate forum for resolving the dispute.
He said the action was instituted not only to protect his personal reputation but also to preserve the integrity and dignity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that his public service career had been built on integrity, honesty and dedication to duty.
While acknowledging that public officials are open to scrutiny, he argued that Adeyemi’s allegations went beyond legitimate criticism and amounted to serious criminal accusations presented as facts.
The court documents further revealed that Adeyemi is currently facing criminal prosecution before the Federal High Court in Abuja in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026 over allegations relating to forged presidential documents and appointment letters.
According to Gbajabiamila’s legal team, the documents at the centre of the criminal case formed the basis of Adeyemi’s public allegations.
Adeyemi has denied any wrongdoing.
The FCT High Court has directed Adeyemi to enter an appearance within 14 days after being served with the originating processes, warning that judgment may be entered against him if he fails to respond within the stipulated period.
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