Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, 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 compelling Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers.
He also asked the court to direct the defendant to pin the apology on all social media platforms and online channels where the alleged defamatory statements were published for 30 days.
Through his legal team led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), the Chief of Staff described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory, insisting he had never met or communicated with Adeyemi or authorised anyone to act on his behalf.
According to the court filings, Adeyemi had alleged during a press conference that a dispute arose after Gbajabiamila purportedly demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant, claiming N400 million had already been paid through a proxy while another N200 million was required to secure presidential approvals.
“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 suit stated.
The case also references Adeyemi’s claims surrounding the alleged death of an intermediary, Babatunde Tanimola, and his allegation that security agencies abandoned investigations into the theft of his mobile phones on the orders of unnamed senior officials.
Gbajabiamila argued that despite a cease-and-desist notice issued by his lawyers on July 6 and published in national newspapers the following day, Adeyemi continued to repeat the allegations in media interviews, including appearances with social media influencer VeryDarkMan and on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
In his witness statement, the Chief of Staff said Adeyemi admitted during one of the interviews that he had never met him personally, never held a video call with him and relied solely on communications allegedly facilitated by the late Tanimola.
Gbajabiamila maintained that the defendant also admitted he could neither confirm nor deny whether the allegations were true and intended to submit his documents to the police for verification.
The Chief of Staff further disclosed that Adeyemi is already facing criminal prosecution before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations involving forged presidential documents and forged appointment letters, which he said formed the basis of the disputed claims.
He denied demanding or receiving any money, abusing his office, interfering with security agencies, intimidating media organisations or having any involvement in the alleged incidents raised by the defendant.
According to him, the allegations have caused serious damage to his personal and professional reputation, built over decades of public service.
Gbajabiamila told the court he chose legal action rather than engaging in a media exchange because he believed the judiciary was the proper forum to resolve the dispute.
He urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought, including damages, a public retraction and apology, to protect both his reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
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