Chief of Staff to the President, Olufemi Gbajabiamila, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi to withdraw what he describes as false and defamatory allegations or face both civil and criminal legal proceedings. The warning comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding claims linked to the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Through his solicitors, Pinheiro LP, Gbajabiamila demanded an immediate retraction of the allegations, a public apology, the removal of all related publications from media and online platforms, and a written commitment that no similar claims would be made in the future. The demands were contained in a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, on behalf of the law firm.
According to the letter, the Gbajabiamila defamation suit followed a press conference addressed by Prince Matthew Adeniyi on June 25, 2026, which was widely circulated through print, broadcast and social media platforms.
The solicitors argued that the statements contained numerous allegations that were false, malicious and unsupported by evidence.
Among the claims challenged were allegations that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of an alleged take-off grant linked to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, received N400 million through proxies for appointments, manipulated security agencies, influenced budget processes, abused public office, acted under the influence of intoxicating substances while carrying out official duties, engaged in corruption, and was connected to murder and a criminal cover-up.
Pinheiro LP described the allegations as defamatory and insisted they lacked any factual foundation. The legal representatives stated that Gbajabiamila had never met, communicated with or maintained any official or personal relationship with Prince Adeyemi.
According to the solicitors, this further demonstrated the reckless nature of the allegations, arguing that the publication exceeded the limits of fair criticism and instead amounted to accusations of criminal conduct made without evidence.
They also maintained that the publication had seriously damaged the Chief of Staff’s reputation, diminished public confidence in his office and exposed him to public ridicule both within and outside Nigeria.
The law firm noted that Adeyemi is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors, over allegations bordering on forgery, including the alleged falsification of appointment documents and presidential letterheads.
According to the letter, several issues raised during the press conference relate directly to matters already before the court. The solicitors criticised Adeyemi for taking his allegations to the media instead of presenting them before appropriate investigative or judicial authorities, adding that trial by media has no place in Nigeria’s legal system.
As part of the Gbajabiamila defamation suit, Pinheiro LP demanded the immediate removal of all videos, transcripts, recordings and related publications from every platform under Adeyemi’s control.
The firm also requested a full and unconditional public apology to be published with equal prominence in at least five national newspapers, across all social media platforms where the allegations appeared and on every other medium used to circulate the claims. In addition, the solicitors demanded a written undertaking that no further defamatory statements would be made against the Chief of Staff.
They warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would trigger both criminal and civil proceedings. The proposed civil action will seek N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, which the letter stated would be donated to charity at Gbajabiamila’s discretion. The suit will also seek a perpetual injunction restraining any future defamatory publications and a court order compelling a formal retraction and apology.
The dispute marks another development in the wider controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. Whether the demands are met within the stipulated 72-hour deadline may determine the next phase of the Gbajabiamila defamation suit and the legal battle between both parties.
