Just in: Gbajabiamila sues PFIPC DG Adeyemi for N15bn over alleged defamation

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to Nigeria's President, has initiated a N15 billion defamation lawsuit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Adeyemi at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The suit stems from allegations made by Adeyemi, who claimed Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 percent kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.

In his lawsuit, Gbajabiamila seeks N10 billion in general damages and N5 billion in aggravated damages. He also requests N200 million for the cost of the legal action. Furthermore, Gbajabiamila is demanding that Adeyemi publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers and pin the apology on all social media platforms and online channels where the alleged defamatory statements were disseminated for 30 days.

Gbajabiamila, represented by a legal team from Pinheiro LP, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, has vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as false, malicious, and defamatory. Court documents state that Gbajabiamila has never met or communicated with Adeyemi, nor has he authorized any intermediary, representative, agent, or proxy to demand or receive money on his behalf.

The lawsuit also addresses Adeyemi's claims regarding the alleged suspicious death of an intermediary, Mr. Babatunde Tanimola, who Adeyemi claimed was the link between him and Gbajabiamila. Adeyemi alleged that Tanimola died in a hotel fire in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, the day after Gbajabiamila reportedly petitioned the police. Adeyemi also claimed he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt and alleged that a "directive from above" instructed security agencies to halt efforts to recover his stolen mobile phones, which he claimed contained crucial evidence.

Gbajabiamila's lawyers had previously issued a cease-and-desist notice, published in several national newspapers on July 7, 2026. However, instead of retracting his statements, Adeyemi allegedly granted an interview to social media influencer VeryDarkMan. In his witness statement, Gbajabiamila's legal team contended that Adeyemi made admissions during this interview that contradicted his earlier allegations, including admitting he had never met Gbajabiamila in person or via video call.

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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.