Alleged Kickback: Gbajabiamila files N15bn defamation suit against Adeyemi

By Bar & Bench Watch

The Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 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 as general damages, N5 billion as 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 is also asking 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.

The suit is being prosecuted by a team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, alongside Folu Oguntade, SAN, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, and Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN.
According to the statement of claim, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi or authorising anyone to demand or receive money on his behalf.

The Chief of Staff is challenging allegations made by Adeyemi during a press conference in which he claimed that a disagreement arose after Gbajabiamila allegedly demanded a 48 per cent kickback from the agency’s N27.3 billion take-off grant.

Adeyemi also alleged that N400 million had already been paid through a proxy on behalf of the Chief of Staff, while another N200 million was required to secure presidential approvals.
However, Gbajabiamila described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.

“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 court processes stated.

The suit also referenced Adeyemi’s claims regarding the alleged mysterious death of one Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as the intermediary between himself and the Chief of Staff.

Adeyemi further alleged that he survived an assassination attempt along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in September 2025 and claimed that a directive “from above” led to security agencies abandoning efforts to recover his stolen mobile phones, which he said contained crucial evidence.

Gbajabiamila specifically distanced himself from claims relating to the mysterious death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi had described as the intermediary between them.

In his witness statement on oath, the Chief of Staff denied ever knowing or having any dealings with Tanimola and rejected any suggestion that he was connected with the circumstances surrounding his death.

He similarly denied any involvement in the alleged attempts on Adeyemi’s life, describing the allegations as false and entirely unfounded.

According to the court documents, Gbajabiamila’s solicitors issued a cease-and-desist notice on July 6, 2026, demanding an immediate retraction and apology. The notice was published in THISDAY and other national newspapers on July 7.

Rather than withdraw the allegations, the suit alleged that Adeyemi granted an interview to social media influencer VeryDarkMan, during which he admitted that he had never met Gbajabiamila, never communicated with him through a video call or any other means capable of independently confirming his identity, and relied entirely on information allegedly supplied by the late Tanimola.

Gbajabiamila further contended that Adeyemi admitted during the interview that he could neither confirm nor deny whether the Chief of Staff was telling the truth and intended to submit his documents to the police for verification.

Despite those admissions, the claimant alleged that Adeyemi repeated the allegations during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television on July 13, 2026.

The Chief of Staff also informed the court that Adeyemi was already standing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Others, over allegations involving forged presidential documents and forged appointment letters.

The Chief of Staff told the court that the allegations had caused serious damage to his personal and professional reputation, built over decades of public service, legal practice and his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He maintained that while public office holders are subject to public scrutiny, the allegations went beyond legitimate criticism and amounted to false accusations of corruption, bribery, abuse of office and other criminal misconduct presented as established facts.

Gbajabiamila said he deliberately refrained from responding through the media because he believed the courtroom was the proper forum for resolving the dispute.

He added that the suit was instituted not only to vindicate his personal reputation but also to protect the integrity and dignity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The FCT High Court has directed Adeyemi, whose address was listed as unknown but who is deemed to be within the court’s jurisdiction, to enter an appearance within 14 days after being served with the originating processes, failing which judgment may be entered against him.