The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Olufemi Gbajabiamila has issued Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director General of the infamous Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) 72 hours to withdraw alleged “false and defamatory” claims against him or be prepared to face both civil and criminal legal action.
Gbajabiamila, who gave the warning through his solicitors, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also demanded a public apology, removal of the alleged defamatory publications from all media platforms, and a written undertaking that no further allegations would be made against him.
The demands were contained in a letter written by Pinheiro, SAN, on behalf of the law firm, dated July 6, 2026, titled; ‘cease-and-desist’ which stated that the attention of Gbajabiamila was drawn to a press conference addressed by Prince Adeyemi on June 25, 2026, which was subsequently circulated across the print, electronic and social media platforms.
The solicitors alleged that the publication contained numerous statements which were “false, malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation,” stressing that they were calculated to portray Gbajabiamila as “corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent, a murderer and unfit” to hold public office.
Pinheiro emphasised that the allegations identified in the letter were claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the alleged take-off grant of an organisation described as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council; received N400 million through proxies in connection with appointments into the organisation; abused his office to intimidate individuals and media organisations; participated in fraudulent budget processes; manipulated security agencies; acted under the influence of intoxicating substances while performing official duties; engaged in corruption, abuse of office and other criminal conduct; as well as involved in murder and a criminal cover-up.
Pinheiro specifically noted that the allegations were entirely false and defamatory and were unsupported by any evidence.
The letter insisted that Gbajabiamila had never met, communicated with, or had any personal or official relationship whatsoever with Prince Matthew, stressing that the absence of any prior interaction demonstrated the reckless and malicious nature of the publication.
It further stated; “The publication goes far beyond fair comment, criticism or political discourse. Rather, it consists of grave allegations of criminality, corruption, abuse of office, bribery, extortion, obstruction of justice and official misconduct made without any lawful justification or supporting evidence”.
Pinheiro also stated in the letter that the publication gravely injured Gbajabiamila’s hard-earned reputation, exposed him to public ridicule and contempt, diminished public confidence in his office and caused significant reputational damage both within and outside Nigeria.
The letter particularly criticised Adeyemi for taking his allegations to the media instead of presenting them before competent investigative or judicial authorities, just as it linked the publication to an ongoing criminal prosecution involving Prince Adeyemi Matthew before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
Pinheiro in the letter noted that Prince Adeyemi Matthew is facing trial in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors, over allegations bordering on forgery, including the alleged forgery of an appointment letter and presidential letter-headed papers purportedly showing that he had been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The letter further stated that several of the allegations contained in the press conference touched on matters already before the court.
According to Pinheiro; “It is even more disturbing to our client that you resorted to defaming him through your press statements after a criminal charge had been filed against you. Trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process”.
The solicitors also noted that the publication generated widespread public attention with friends, political associates and other members of the public contacting Gbajabiamila over the allegations, thus questioning his integrity.
Accordingly, Gbajabiamila through his solicitors, directed Prince Adeyemi Matthew to immediately cease and desist from making or publishing any further defamatory statements concerning him, and also specifically demanded the removal of the offending press conference, transcripts, videos, recordings and all related publications from every platform under his control.
The Chief of Staff to the President also demanded that Prince Adeyemi Matthew publish a full, unequivocal and unreserved retraction and apology acknowledging that the allegations were false, defamatory and without factual basis.
Gbajabiamila further demanded through his lawyer that the apology by Prince Adeyemi Matthew, must be published with equal prominence in at least five national newspapers, on every platform where the publication appeared and across all social media accounts through which it was disseminated.
The Chief of Staff to the President also demanded a written undertaking that no further defamatory statements would be made against him and warned that failure to comply with the demands within 72 hours would result in legal proceedings without further notice.
The letter by the solicitors to Gbajabiamila further stated that the proposed action will include the filing of a criminal complaint for alleged criminal defamation under the applicable laws of the Federal Capital Territory and also civil proceedings seeking among other reliefs, N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, which the lawyer disclosed would be paid to a charity or charities of Gbajabiamila’s choice.
Pinheiro said the suit will further seek a perpetual injunction restraining any further defamatory publications against the Gbajabiamila and a mandatory order compelling the publication of a retraction and apology.
