By Tekena Amieyeofori
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has issued a legal notice against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, demanding ₦10 billion in damages over allegations of murder, bribery, abuse of office, and other offences.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, signed by Kemi Pinheiro SAN, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers described Adeyemi’s claims as false, malicious, and injurious to their client’s reputation. The letter was in response to a June 25 press briefing where Adeyemi accused the Chief of Staff of demanding a cut from the purported take-off grant of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), collecting funds through proxies, misusing his office, and covering up crimes. He also called Gbajabiamila “a murderer” and “an assassin.”
Adeyemi is already facing prosecution at the Federal High Court, Abuja for his alleged involvement with PFIPC, an entity the Presidency insists does not exist. Court filings in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026 accuse him of forgery, including falsifying an appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature and producing fake presidential letterheads to pose as a government official.
Gbajabiamila’s lawyers listed nine specific claims from Adeyemi’s briefing, including allegations that he asked for 48 per cent of PFIPC’s alleged ₦27.4 billion take-off fund (about ₦12.5 billion) and received ₦400 million through middlemen for appointments tied to the council. Other claims dismissed were that Gbajabiamila intimidated media houses, manipulated budget processes, misused security agencies, and performed official functions while intoxicated.
The legal team rejected the accusations as baseless and defamatory, saying they were meant to portray Gbajabiamila as corrupt and unfit for public service. Gbajabiamila insisted he has never met or dealt with Adeyemi, describing the claims as fabricated.
The lawyers gave Adeyemi 72 hours to stop further defamatory remarks, delete all videos and transcripts of the allegations, publish a full apology and retraction in at least five national dailies and on social media, and sign a pledge not to repeat the claims. Failure to comply, they warned, would lead to criminal defamation charges and a civil action for ₦10 billion in damages, which Gbajabiamila said would be donated to charity.
The dispute stems from PFIPC’s controversial appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Act, where it was listed alongside the Presidential Economic Advisory Council with an allocation of over ₦1.3 billion. Adeyemi argued this proved PFIPC was legitimate, while the Presidency maintains it is fraudulent.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called for an independent probe, stressing that the Presidency cannot constitutionally determine guilt or innocence. Adeyemi is expected back in court on July 27, 2026.