The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has given Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi 72 hours to retract the alleged defamatory claims made against him during a press conference on June 25, 2026, or face civil and criminal legal action.
The ultimatum was issued through Gbajabiamila’s legal counsel, 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 allegations as false, malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation.
According to the law firm, the press conference was widely circulated across print, electronic, and social media platforms, with an addition that It contained claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48% of a take-off grant for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, received N400 million through proxies for appointments, abused his office to intimidate individuals and media houses, and was involved in budget fraud, manipulation of security agencies, corruption, abuse of office, and a criminal cover-up including murder.
The law firm stated that Gbajabiamila has never met, communicated with, or had any relationship with Prince Matthew, describing the publication as grave allegations of criminality made without lawful justification or evidence.
The firm said the claims have damaged Gbajabiamila’s reputation, exposed him to public ridicule, and diminished confidence in his office.
The solicitors also noted that Prince Matthew is currently facing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors, over alleged forgery of presidential appointment documents.
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Pinheiro argued that several allegations in the press conference relate to matters already before the court, and criticised Adeyemi for resorting to trial by media.
The Chief of Staff is therefore demanding that Adeyemi cease from further defamatory statements, remove all related publications, videos, and transcripts from every platform, publish a full retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and across all platforms where the claims appeared, and provide a written undertaking to not make further defamatory statements.
The letter warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would trigger both civil and criminal proceedings.
According to the law firm, the civil suit would seek ₦10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages to be paid to charities of Gbajabiamila’s choice, a perpetual injunction against further publications, and a court order compelling a retraction and apology.
A criminal complaint for alleged criminal defamation under FCT laws will also be filed, the law firm stated.
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