PFIPC Saga: Gbajabiamila Threatens ₦10bn Lawsuit Against Adeyemi, Gives 72 Hours to Retract Allegations

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi to withdraw allegations he described as defamatory and damaging to his reputation, warning that failure to comply will trigger civil and criminal legal action.

Gbajabiamila, through his solicitors, Pinheiro LP, demanded a public apology, the removal of the alleged defamatory statements from all platforms where they were published and a written undertaking that Adeyemi would not make further allegations against him.

The demands were contained in a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, signed by senior lawyer Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, on behalf of the law firm.

According to the letter, Gbajabiamila’s legal team was responding to a press conference addressed by Adeyemi on June 25, 2026, which was subsequently circulated across print, broadcast and social media platforms.

The solicitors alleged that the statements made during the press conference contained “numerous statements which are not only false, malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation,” claiming that they were designed to portray Gbajabiamila as involved in corruption, criminal conduct and abuse of office.

Among the allegations listed by the law firm were claims that the Chief of Staff demanded a percentage of an alleged take-off grant linked to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), received funds through proxies in relation to appointments, influenced security agencies, participated in fraudulent budget processes and engaged in other criminal activities.

The legal representatives described the claims as completely false and defamatory, insisting that they were unsupported by evidence.

“The publication goes far beyond fair comment, criticism or political discourse. Rather, it consists of grave allegations of criminality, corruption, abuse of office, bribery, extortion, obstruction of justice and official misconduct made without any lawful justification or supporting evidence,” the solicitors stated.

Pinheiro LP further argued that Gbajabiamila had never met, communicated with, or maintained any personal or official relationship with Adeyemi, describing the allegations as reckless and malicious.

The firm said the publications had caused serious damage to the Chief of Staff’s reputation, exposing him to public ridicule and undermining confidence in his office.

The solicitors also criticised Adeyemi for making the allegations publicly instead of presenting them before appropriate investigative authorities or the courts.

The letter linked the controversy to the ongoing criminal case involving Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adeyemi is facing charges in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, involving allegations bordering on forgery, including claims that he forged appointment documents and presidential letter-headed papers suggesting that he had been appointed by President Bola Tinubu to head the purported council.

Gbajabiamila’s lawyers argued that some of the issues raised by Adeyemi were already before the court and should be addressed through due legal processes rather than public accusations.

“Trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process,” the letter stated.

As part of their demands, the solicitors directed Adeyemi to immediately stop making any further statements concerning Gbajabiamila, remove the publications, videos and recordings linked to the allegations and issue a full and unconditional retraction.

The law firm requested that the apology be published with similar prominence in at least five national newspapers, on all platforms where the allegations appeared, and across Adeyemi’s social media accounts.

The solicitors warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would lead to legal action without further notice.

According to the letter, Gbajabiamila’s planned legal action would include a criminal complaint for alleged criminal defamation under applicable laws in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as a civil suit seeking ₦10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.

The proposed civil action will also seek an injunction preventing further publication of similar claims and an order compelling the publication of a formal retraction and apology.

The dispute is connected to the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, which the Presidency has described as a non-existent body and which has triggered investigations and public debate over the circumstances surrounding its appearance in Nigeria’s 2026 budget documents.