Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a fresh N15 billion defamation lawsuit against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), over allegations linking him to bribery, murder, and abuse of office.
The suit, filed before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeks N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, N200 million as the cost of the action, and an order compelling Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and unconditional apology in five national newspapers and across his social media platforms.
Case Background
Adeyemi had alleged that Gbajabiamila received a N400 million bribe through an intermediary to facilitate appointments into the PFIPC, an agency later found to be fake.
Adeyemi also alleged that the Chief of Staff orchestrated efforts to use security agencies against him and linked him to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom he claimed acted as an intermediary between the two men.
On July 7, Gbajabiamila, through his lawyer Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Adeyemi remove all videos containing the allegations and publish a retraction and apology within 72 hours.
Gbajabiamila Denies Allegations
According to the statement of claim, Gbajabiamila categorically denied ever meeting, communicating with, or authorising anyone to act on his behalf in dealings with Adeyemi.
He described the allegations as “entirely false, baseless, malicious, reckless and wholly devoid of any factual or evidential foundation.”
The court filings further state that the Chief of Staff has never authorised any intermediary, representative, agent or proxy to demand or receive money on his behalf.
The suit alleges that rather than retract the claims after receiving the legal notice, Adeyemi granted an interview to social media personality Martins Vincent Otse (VeryDarkMan), during which he acknowledged that he had never personally met Gbajabiamila, claiming that all communications were through the late Babatunde Tanimola.
Gbajabiamila also cited Adeyemi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on July 13, where he allegedly maintained the substance of his allegations without issuing a retraction.
What Gbajabiamila Wants
The Chief of Staff is asking the court to:
Declare Adeyemi’s statements false, malicious, and defamatory.
Award N10 billion in general damages.
Award N5 billion in aggravated damages.
Award N200 million as litigation costs, with 10% post-judgment interest.
Order Adeyemi to publish an unconditional apology in five national newspapers within seven days of judgment.
Direct that the apology remain on his social media and electronic platforms for 30 consecutive days.
Compel the removal of all publications and recordings containing the allegations.
Grant a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyemi from making or publishing similar allegations in the future.
