ABUJA — The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has formally instituted a N15 billion defamation lawsuit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. This legal escalation follows weeks of public allegations by Matthew, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)—an organization the Presidency has repeatedly dismissed as non-existent.
In his court filing, Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, and N200 million to cover the costs of the litigation. Furthermore, he is requesting a mandatory court order compelling Matthew to issue an unequivocal retraction and apology in five national newspapers, as well as maintaining these apologies on all social media platforms where the defamatory claims were previously broadcast for a period of 30 days.
The Core of the Dispute
The lawsuit, filed by a legal team from Pinheiro LP led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), centers on a series of explosive claims made by Matthew during a recent press conference and subsequent media interviews. Matthew alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent “kickback” from a N27.3 billion take-off grant intended for the PFIPC.
Matthew further alleged that he had already paid N400 million to a proxy acting for the Chief of Staff, with an additional N200 million allegedly requested to facilitate presidential approvals. He also attempted to link the Chief of Staff to the death of an alleged intermediary, Babatunde Tanimola, and raised claims of an assassination attempt against himself.
Categorical Denial
Gbajabiamila has dismissed these allegations as entirely “false, malicious and defamatory.” In his statement on oath, the Chief of Staff categorically denied:
- Ever meeting, communicating with, or having any professional dealings with Matthew.
- Authorizing any agent or proxy to demand or receive funds on his behalf.
- Any knowledge of or involvement in the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death or the alleged threats to Matthew’s life.
- Interfering with, manipulating, or directing any law enforcement agencies regarding these matters.
A Pattern of Forgery
The court documents also highlight that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew is currently standing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a separate criminal case (Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026). In that matter, he faces charges related to the forgery of official presidential documents and appointment letters, which the claimant asserts provided the basis for the current defamatory narrative.
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The FCT High Court has directed the defendant to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served the originating processes, warning that a failure to do so may result in a default judgment.
The claimant emphasized that he initiated this legal action not only to clear his name after decades of public service but also to protect the institutional integrity and dignity of the Office of the Chief of Staff. By taking this step, Gbajabiamila has opted for the judicial process to settle the matter, having previously issued a 72-hour cease-and-desist notice on July 6, which the defendant reportedly ignored.
