President Bola Tinubu's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened to file a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations linking him to murder, bribery and abuse of office.
According to a legal letter dated 6th July and signed by senior lawyer Kemi Pinheiro on behalf of Gbajabiamila, the allegations made by Adeyemi during a 25th June press conference are "not only false but gravely defamatory."
Adeyemi, who is facing criminal charges over his alleged role in operating the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, a body the Presidency says is fictitious, had accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the council's alleged take-off grant, receiving money through proxies and participating in a criminal cover-up.
He also described the Chief of Staff as "a murderer" and "an assassin."
The legal team rejected the claims, saying they were "designed to portray our client as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, administratively incompetent, a murderer and unfit to occupy public office."
The letter further stated that Adeyemi had "never at any time met, interacted with, communicated with, or had any form of personal or official dealing whatsoever" with Gbajabiamila.
It added that the decision "to fabricate and publish allegations against a person with whom you have had absolutely no relationship or interaction underscores the reckless, baseless and malicious nature of your publication."
Gbajabiamila's lawyers gave Adeyemi 72 hours to withdraw the statements, remove all related videos and publications, issue a public apology in at least five national newspapers and undertake not to repeat the allegations.
The letter warned that failure to comply would lead to criminal defamation proceedings and a civil suit seeking ₦10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
It also stated that "trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process."
Adeyemi is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 27th July to face the pending criminal charges.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the presidency after Adeyemi's relatives were arrested by the police.
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