Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened legal action against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, demanding ₦10 billion in damages over allegations linking him to murder, bribery, corruption and other criminal conduct.
Gbajabiamila, through his lawyers at Pinheiro LP, also gave Adeyemi 72 hours to withdraw the allegations, apologise publicly and remove the disputed publications from all platforms. The demands are contained in a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6.
Lawyers reject allegations
According to the legal team, Adeyemi made the allegations during a press conference on June 25. The lawyers described the claims as false, malicious and unsupported by evidence.
The letter said the publication portrayed Gbajabiamila as corrupt, dishonest and unfit for public office. It also argued that the allegations caused significant damage to his reputation within and outside Nigeria.
The solicitors further maintained that Gbajabiamila had never met or communicated with Adeyemi. They argued that the absence of any relationship highlighted what they described as the reckless nature of the allegations.
Adeyemi asked to apologise
Gbajabiamila’s lawyers demanded an immediate retraction of the allegations. They also asked Adeyemi to publish an unreserved apology in at least five national newspapers and on every platform where the claims appeared.
In addition, the legal team directed him to remove all videos, transcripts, recordings and related publications containing the allegations. They also requested a written undertaking that he would not make similar statements in the future.
The letter warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would trigger both civil and criminal legal proceedings without further notice.
Case linked to ongoing criminal trial
The dispute is connected to the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which the Presidency has repeatedly described as a fictitious organisation.
According to the letter, Adeyemi is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on allegations that include forgery and the alleged use of counterfeit presidential documents. The legal team argued that some of the issues raised during the press conference are already before the court.
The lawyers also criticised Adeyemi for taking the allegations to the media instead of presenting them before the appropriate investigative or judicial authorities. They maintained that trial by media cannot replace due process under Nigerian law.
