Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, has threatened legal action against Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), demanding N10 billion in damages over allegations of bribery and murder made against him.
In a letter signed by his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, Gbajabiamila asked Adeyemi to immediately remove all videos and other publications in which he made the allegations during a press conference held on June 26.
The chief of staff also demanded that Adeyemi publish a full retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and on all social media platforms where the press conference was circulated.
Pinheiro described the allegations as “not only false, malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation,” adding that they were intended to portray Gbajabiamila as “corrupt, morally bankrupt, and a murderer.”
The lawyer said Gbajabiamila had never met or had any form of interaction with Adeyemi, describing the allegations as baseless and malicious.
“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,” the letter stated.
Pinheiro warned that if Adeyemi failed to comply with the demands within 72 hours, legal proceedings would be initiated against him without further notice.
The legal threat comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency has repeatedly described as fictitious.
In an earlier statement, Gbajabiamila said neither his office nor the Presidency appointed Adeyemi to any position, maintaining that the PFIPC does not exist under the Tinubu administration.
However, during the June 26 press conference, Adeyemi challenged the Presidency’s position, questioning how the PFIPC appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act if it was not a recognised government entity.
He also alleged that Gbajabiamila received N400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional N200 million to facilitate his appointment as director-general of the organisation.
Adeyemi further called for an investigation into the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as an intermediary in his dealings, and alleged that there had been attempts on his life.
Adeyemi is currently facing criminal charges filed by the Nigeria Police over allegations that he forged official documents, falsely presented himself as the head of the PFIPC and operated a fictitious government agency. He has denied wrongdoing and continues to challenge the Presidency’s account of the controversy.
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