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A South West socio-cultural group, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, on Thursday blamed the N10 billion defamation suit launched by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on allegations linked to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, and described the action as a pre-emptive move aimed at thwarting an independent investigation.
In a statement signed by its President, Akin Malaolu, the forum said: “Following the allegations of graft and bribery leveled against Gbajabiamila, and the government’s commitment to establishing the truth, we are surprised that the Chief of Staff chose to threaten defamation charges rather than cooperate fully in efforts to resolve this matter.”
The forum said it did not oppose any citizen, including Gbajabiamila, seeking legal redress. However, they questioned the basis of the lawsuit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, chairman of PFIPC.
“We fail to see how defamation charges against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi can be sustained when security agents arrested his father in Ogbomoso, Adeyemi himself has been indicted by the government, and Gbajabiamila continues to feign ignorance of the ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of Foreign Services (DSS),” the statement said.
The group also criticized the Presidency, alleging that it appeared to be protecting the Chief of Staff from resigning to face civil charges and a criminal investigation.
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“We must give a clear warning: protecting suspected members of the Presidency is a dangerous act in the eyes of Nigerians and the Yoruba race.
“As thought leaders in the South West, we view any efforts to protect Gbajabiamila from resigning as a stain on the Yoruba race and the government of President Bola Tinubu. The criminal charges at issue are not something that a responsible government should condone. On the issue of Femi Gbajabiamila’s resignation, we stand firm,” the forum said.
Gbajabiamila has given Prince Adeyemi 72 hours to withdraw the defamation charges leveled against him during a press conference on June 25, 2026, or face civil and criminal prosecution.
The ultimatum was delivered through Gbajabiamila’s attorney, Pinheiro LP, in a cease and desist letter dated July 6, 2026, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro.
The letter described Adeyemi’s accusations as false, malicious, reckless and completely without any factual basis.
The letter warns that failure to comply within 72 hours will trigger civil and criminal proceedings.
According to the law firm, the civil suit will seek N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages to be paid to Gbajabiamila’s chosen charity, a perpetual injunction against further publication, and a court order compelling a retraction and apology.
