The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over allegations that he demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.
In the suit, Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, N200 million as the cost of the action, and an order directing Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers.
He also asked the court to compel the defendant to pin the apology on all social media platforms and online channels where the alleged defamatory statements were published for 30 days.
The suit was filed by his legal team from Pinheiro LP, led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), alongside Folu Oguntade (SAN), Olukayode Enitan (SAN) and Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN), who described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.
According to the statement of claim, Adeyemi alleged during a press conference that a dispute arose after Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.
Adeyemi also claimed that N400 million had already been paid through a proxy allegedly acting on behalf of the Chief of Staff, while an additional N200 million was required to secure presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila, however, denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi or authorising anyone to act on his behalf.
“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.
The suit also referenced Adeyemi’s allegations concerning the death of one Babatunde Tanimola, whom he claimed acted as an intermediary between himself and the Chief of Staff.
Adeyemi alleged that Tanimola died in a hotel fire in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, a day after Gbajabiamila allegedly petitioned the police.
He further claimed he survived an assassination attempt along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in September 2025 and alleged that a “directive from above” instructed the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to discontinue efforts to recover his stolen mobile phones, which he said contained vital evidence.
Court documents showed that Gbajabiamila’s solicitors issued a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, which was published in national newspapers the following day, demanding an immediate retraction and apology.
The claimant alleged that instead of withdrawing the claims, Adeyemi granted an interview to social media influencer VeryDarkMan, during which he admitted that he had never met the Chief of Staff, never held a video call with him and had no independent means of verifying the identity of the person he believed to be Gbajabiamila.
According to Gbajabiamila’s witness statement, Adeyemi also admitted that all communications were conducted through the late Tanimola.
Despite those admissions, the Chief of Staff alleged that Adeyemi repeated the allegations during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television on July 13, 2026.
The court filings further revealed that Adeyemi is already standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations involving forged presidential documents and forged appointment letters.
According to Gbajabiamila, those documents formed the basis of the public allegations made against him.
The FCT High Court directed Adeyemi, whose address was listed as unknown but deemed to be within the court’s jurisdiction, to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served with the originating processes or risk judgment being entered against him in default.
In his witness statement, Gbajabiamila denied demanding any kickback, receiving N400 million through a proxy, requesting an additional N200 million, abusing his office, manipulating security agencies or interfering with investigations involving Adeyemi.
He also denied instructing the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission or any other law enforcement agency to harass or investigate the defendant.
The Chief of Staff further denied any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death or the alleged attempts on Adeyemi’s life.
Gbajabiamila maintained that he had built his reputation over decades of public service on integrity and honesty, arguing that the allegations amounted to false accusations of corruption, bribery and abuse of office.
He said the publications sparked widespread public discussion and inquiries from associates within and outside Nigeria, causing significant damage to his reputation.
Gbajabiamila added that he chose not to engage in a media exchange because he believed the courts were the appropriate forum to resolve the dispute.
He told the court that the suit was filed not only to protect his personal reputation but also to preserve the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.