Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Olufemi Gbajabiamila, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi to retract what he described as false and defamatory allegations made against him or face both civil and criminal legal action.
The demand was conveyed through a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, by his solicitors, Pinheiro LP, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro.
According to the letter, Gbajabiamila’s attention was drawn to a press conference allegedly addressed by Adeyemi on June 25, 2026, which was subsequently circulated across print, electronic and social media platforms.
The legal team alleged that the publication contained several false, malicious and unsubstantiated claims designed to portray the Chief of Staff as corrupt, dishonest, criminally liable and unfit to hold public office.
Among the allegations cited were claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of an alleged take-off grant linked to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), received N400 million through proxies in connection with appointments into the organisation, manipulated security agencies, participated in fraudulent budget processes and was involved in corruption, abuse of office and other criminal conduct.
The solicitors also referenced allegations linking the Chief of Staff to murder and a criminal cover-up, insisting that none of the claims was supported by credible evidence.
Pinheiro LP maintained that Gbajabiamila had never met, communicated with or maintained any form of personal or official relationship with Adeyemi, describing the allegations as reckless and malicious.
According to the firm, the publication had damaged the reputation of the Chief of Staff, exposed him to public ridicule and diminished public confidence in his office both within and outside Nigeria.
The lawyers further criticised Adeyemi for taking the allegations to the media rather than presenting them before relevant investigative or judicial authorities.
The letter also linked the controversy to an ongoing criminal case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Adeyemi is facing trial over allegations bordering on forgery, including claims that he forged appointment documents purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu.
Gbajabiamila’s legal team demanded the immediate withdrawal of all defamatory statements, the removal of related publications from all media platforms and a public apology acknowledging that the allegations were false and without factual basis.
The proposed apology, according to the letter, must be published in at least five national newspapers and on all platforms where the allegations were circulated.
The solicitors also requested a written undertaking that no further defamatory statements would be made against their client.
They warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would result in legal proceedings, including a criminal complaint for alleged defamation and a civil suit seeking N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
The legal action would also seek a perpetual injunction restraining further defamatory publications and a court order compelling a public retraction and apology.
The dispute is the latest development in the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and is expected to attract significant public and legal attention in the coming weeks.
