The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a N15 billion defamation suit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, against Adeniyi Adeyemi 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 in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages and N200 million as the cost of the action.
He is also seeking an order directing the defendant to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers and on all social media platforms where the alleged defamatory statements were made.
According to court documents, the Chief of Staff denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi or authorising anyone to demand or receive money on his behalf.
The claimant, through his legal team led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.
Other members of the legal team are Folu Oguntade, Olukayode Enitan and Chukwudi Enebeli, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).
The suit followed a press conference at which Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent kickback from the agency's N27.3 billion take-off grant, allegedly receiving N400 million through a proxy while demanding an additional N200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila maintained in his statement on oath that he had no personal, official or professional relationship with the defendant.
He denied demanding or receiving any money, abusing his office or interfering with law enforcement agencies.
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He also denied any involvement in the alleged death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi claimed acted as an intermediary, and rejected allegations linking him to an alleged assassination attempt on the defendant.
In the court documents, the claimant's solicitors issued a cease-and-desist letter on July 6, 2026, demanding a retraction and apology, which was published in national newspapers the following day.
Rather than withdraw the allegations, Adeyemi went on to grant further interviews, including one with social media influencer VeryDarkMan and another on Politics Today on Channels Television on July 13, 2026.
Gbajabiamila told the court that during one of the interviews, Adeyemi admitted he had never met him in person and had not independently verified the identity of the person he believed to be the Chief of Staff, saying all communications were allegedly conducted through the late Tanimola.
Despite those admissions, the defendant continued to repeat the allegations publicly, the claimant argued, causing further damage to his reputation.
Court documents also disclosed that Adeyemi is facing a separate criminal trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, involving allegations of forged presidential documents and forged appointment letters.
Gbajabiamila told the court he chose to seek redress through legal channels rather than respond in the media, saying the action was intended to protect both his reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
The FCT High Court has directed Adeyemi to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served with the originating processes, failing which judgment may be entered against him in default.
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