Defamation: Apologise in 72 hours or face N10bn suit, Gbajabiamila warns Adeyemi By Dally IyamuÂ
Defamation: Apologise in 72 hours or face N10bn suit, Gbajabiamila warns Adeyemi
By Dally IyamuÂ
A legal battle is looming between the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew after the presidential aide demanded a public apology within 72 hours over alleged defamatory accusations, warning that he would seek N10 billion in damages if the demand is ignored.
Gbajabiamila’s solicitor, Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), has written a formal letter to Adeyemi over what he described as false and defamatory statements recently made against his client.
The five-page letter, dated July 6, 2026, and titled, “RE: CEASE AND DESIST IN RE: FALSE AND DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN YOUR WIDELY CIRCULATED PRESS STATEMENT OF THE 25TH OF JUNE, 2026,” addressed to Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, stated that the Chief of Staff’s attention had been drawn to a press conference addressed by Adeyemi and widely circulated across traditional and digital media platforms under the title, “Press Conference Address by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.”
According to the letter, the publication, which has attracted widespread public attention, contains numerous statements that are “false, malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation,” and were deliberately designed to portray Gbajabiamila as “corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent, a murderer and unfit to occupy public office.”
Pinheiro stated that Adeyemi falsely alleged, among other claims, that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the alleged take-off grant meant for an entity described as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council; received N400 million by proxy in connection with appointments into the organisation; abused his office as Chief of Staff to intimidate individuals and media organisations; knowingly participated in fraudulent government budget processes; acted dishonestly in a manner warranting his resignation; sought to manipulate security agencies against him; may have discharged his official duties under the influence of intoxicating substances; engaged in corruption, abuse of office, criminality and gross misconduct; and was a murderer and assassin who participated in a criminal cover-up.
The solicitor maintained that the allegations were “not only false but gravely defamatory,” adding that they portray his client as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, violent, dangerous, unfit for public office and undeserving of public trust.
Pinheiro said he had been instructed by Gbajabiamila to demand that Adeyemi, within 72 hours of receiving the letter, cease and desist from making or publishing any further defamatory statements against his client; remove and ensure the removal of the offending press conference, transcripts, videos, recordings and all similar materials from every platform under his control; publish a full, unequivocal and unreserved retraction and apology acknowledging that the allegations were false, defamatory and without factual basis.
The apology, according to the letter, must be published with equal prominence in at least five national newspapers, on all platforms where the original publication appeared, and on every social media account through which it was disseminated.
Adeyemi is also required to provide a written undertaking that he would refrain from making any further defamatory statements concerning Gbajabiamila.
The solicitor warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated 72 hours would leave his client with no option but to commence legal proceedings without further notice.
The proposed legal action, the letter stated, would include lodging a criminal petition for alleged criminal defamation in line with applicable laws in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as instituting a civil suit seeking, among other reliefs, N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, which Gbajabiamila intends to donate to charity.
The suit would also seek a perpetual injunction restraining any further defamatory publications and a mandatory court order compelling Adeyemi to publish a retraction and apology.
“We trust you will be guided accordingly,” the letter concluded.
