Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened legal action against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, demanding N10 billion in damages over allegations linking him to murder, bribery and other criminal acts.
The threat was conveyed in a letter dated July 6, 2026, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, on behalf of Pinheiro LP, the legal representatives of the Chief of Staff.
The letter stated in part, “The publication which has been extensively circulated across several print, electronic and social media platforms and has consequently attracted widespread public attention, contains numerous statements which are not only false, malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation, but were clearly designed to portray our client as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent, a murderer and unfit to occupy public office.
“In particular, in your press conference, you falsely alleged, among other things, that our client demanded or requested forty-eight percent (48%) of the alleged take-off grant of an entity described as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, received the sum of 400,000,000.00 by proxy in connection with appointments relating to the said entity, abused and exploited his office as Chief of Staff to intimidate individuals and media organizations,
“Knowingly participated in fraudulent governmental processes relating to the national budget acted dishonestly and in a manner warranting his resignation from public office sought to manipulate or misuse security agencies against you may have acted under the influence of intoxicating substances in the discharge of his official duties and engaged in conduct suggestive of corruption, abuse of office, criminality and gross misconduct is a murderer, assassin and participated in a criminal cover-up.
“These allegations are not only false but are gravely defamatory. They plainly convey to ordinary, reasonable members of society that our client is corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, unfit for public office, violent, dangerous and undeserving of public trust.”
Gbajabiamila’s legal team demanded that Adeyemi, within 72 hours of receiving the letter, stop making or publishing any further defamatory statements, remove the disputed press conference and all related materials from every platform under his control, and issue a full, unequivocal and unreserved retraction and apology.
The lawyers further insisted that the apology be given the same level of prominence as the original allegations by publishing it in at least five national newspapers, on every platform where the claims appeared, and across all social media accounts used to circulate them.
They also requested a written undertaking from Adeyemi, assuring that no further defamatory statements would be made against their client.
According to the letter, failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated 72-hour period would leave them “with no option but to initiate both criminal and civil proceedings.”
The proposed legal action includes a criminal complaint for alleged criminal defamation under the laws of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside a civil suit seeking N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages. The legal team said any damages awarded would be donated to charities selected by Gbajabiamila.
The lawyers also disclosed that they would seek a perpetual injunction to restrain Adeyemi from making further defamatory publications, as well as a mandatory court order compelling him to issue a retraction and apology.
Adeyemi had, during a press conference on June 25, accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the alleged take-off funds of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), receiving money through intermediaries, abusing his office and participating in efforts to conceal alleged wrongdoing.
