Fake Agency Scandal: Gbajabiamila seeks ₦10bn damages, issues 72-Hour ultimatum to Prince Adeniyi

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has given Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi 72 hours to withdraw what he described as false and defamatory allegations made against him or face both civil and criminal legal action.

Gbajabiamila, through his solicitors, Pinheiro LP, also demanded a public apology, the removal of the alleged defamatory publications from all media platforms, and a written undertaking that no further allegations would be made against him.

The demands were contained in a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, and signed by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) on behalf of the law firm.

According to the letter, the Chief of Staff’s attention was drawn to a press conference addressed by Prince Adeyemi on June 25, 2026, which was subsequently circulated across print, electronic and social media platforms.

The solicitors alleged that the publication contained “false, malicious, reckless and entirely unfounded” statements designed to portray Gbajabiamila as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent and unfit for public office.

Among the allegations referenced were claims that the Chief of Staff demanded 48 per cent of an alleged take-off grant belonging to an organisation identified as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, received ₦400 million through proxies for appointments, manipulated security agencies, abused his office, participated in fraudulent budget processes, engaged in corruption and criminal conduct, and was involved in murder and a cover-up.

Pinheiro LP dismissed the allegations as entirely false, insisting they were unsupported by any evidence.

The law firm further stated that Gbajabiamila had never met, communicated with or maintained any personal or official relationship with Prince Adeyemi, arguing that the absence of any prior interaction underscored the reckless nature of the allegations.

According to the solicitors, the publication went beyond fair criticism and amounted to grave accusations of criminality, corruption, bribery, extortion, abuse of office and obstruction of justice made without lawful justification.

The firm said the publication had severely damaged Gbajabiamila’s reputation, exposed him to public ridicule and undermined confidence in his office both within and outside Nigeria.

The letter also criticised Prince Adeyemi for taking the allegations to the media instead of presenting them before the appropriate investigative or judicial authorities.

Pinheiro LP further noted that Prince Adeyemi is currently facing criminal prosecution before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, over allegations bordering on forgery, including the alleged forgery of an appointment letter and presidential letterhead purportedly showing he had been appointed by President Tinubu.

The solicitors argued that several issues raised during the press conference were already before the court.

“It is even more disturbing to our client that you resorted to defaming him through your press statements after a criminal charge had been filed against you,” the letter stated, adding that trial by media has no place in Nigerian law.

The law firm demanded that Prince Adeyemi immediately stop making or publishing further defamatory statements, remove all related publications from every platform under his control, and publish a full, unequivocal and unreserved apology acknowledging that the allegations were false and without factual basis.

According to the letter, the apology must be published with equal prominence in at least five national newspapers, across all platforms where the allegations appeared, and on every social media account used to circulate them.

Pinheiro LP warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would result in legal proceedings without further notice.

The proposed action includes a criminal complaint for alleged criminal defamation under the laws of the Federal Capital Territory and a civil suit seeking ₦10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, a perpetual injunction restraining further defamatory publications, and a mandatory court order compelling a public retraction and apology.

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