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The President’s Chief of Staff, Olufemi Gbajabiamila, has threatened to sue the controversial Director-General of the President’s Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeyemi Adeniyi.
The president’s men gave Adeyemi a 72-hour ultimatum to withdraw charges linking him to the activities of the fictitious institution or face civil and criminal proceedings.
Gbajabiamila, through his lawyer, Pinheiro LP, also demanded a full public apology, the immediate removal of all allegedly defamatory material from the media and social media platforms, and a written commitment that no similar allegations will be made against him in the future.
Lawyers stated that the proposed civil suit would seek more severe and exemplary damages of N10 billion, which Gbajabiamila would donate to charity if granted.
The request was contained in a cease and desist letter dated July 6, 2026 signed by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), on behalf of the law firm.
In the letter, the Chief of Staff’s legal team responded to the June 25, 2026 press conference delivered by Adeniyi, where he allegedly accused Gbajabiamila of corruption, abuse of office, bribery, extortion, budget manipulation fraud, interference in security agencies, complicity in murder, and other criminal acts.
Pinheiro claimed that Adeniyi also accused Gbajabiamila of soliciting 48 per cent grant funds for an organization identified as the Presidential Council for the Promotion of Foreign Intervention, receiving N400 million through his proxy for appointment to the body, and using his office to intimidate individuals and media organisations.
The senior lawyer described the allegations as “false, malicious, reckless and completely without any factual basis,” and stated that they were deliberately created to portray the Chief of Staff as corrupt, dishonest and unfit for public office.
Pinheiro further stated that Gbajabiamila has never met or communicated with Adeniyi in any personal or official capacity, and stated that the absence of any relationship highlights the frivolous nature of the claim.
He further asserted that the publication went beyond the bounds of fair comment and political criticism by making serious criminal allegations without supporting evidence.
The letter also linked the press conference to the ongoing criminal case against Adeniyi at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Pinheiro claims that Adeniyi was tried in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors, on charges of forgery, including alleged forgery of appointment letters and presidential letterheads purportedly showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed him.
Lawyers argued that some of the allegations raised during the news conference were related to matters already before the court, and described the media briefing as an attempt to conduct a “trial by media.”
He stated that the publication had caused serious reputational damage to Gbajabiamila, exposing him to public ridicule and prompting questions from political colleagues, friends and members of the public regarding the allegations.
Therefore, Pinheiro demands that Adeniyi immediately cease making or publishing any further defamatory statements, remove all videos, transcripts and related materials from every platform under his control, and issue a full retraction and apology.
The apology, he said, should be published equally in at least five national newspapers, on all platforms where the allegations appeared, and on all relevant social media accounts.
Lawyers warn that failure to comply within 72 hours will result in civil and criminal proceedings without further notice.
The action will also seek a continuing injunction to restrain Adeniyi from further defamatory publications, and a mandatory injunction requiring the publication of a retraction and apology.
