Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over allegations that he demanded a 48 percent kickback from a ₦27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.
In the suit, Gbajabiamila is seeking ₦10 billion in general damages, ₦5 billion in aggravated damages, ₦200 million as the cost of the action, and a court order compelling the defendant to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers.
He is also asking the court to direct Matthew to pin the apology on all social media platforms and online channels where the alleged defamatory statements were published for 30 days.
Through his legal team from Pinheiro LP, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kemi Pinheiro, Gbajabiamila described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.
According to the court filings, Matthew alleged during a press conference that the Chief of Staff demanded a 48 percent kickback from the agency’s ₦27.3 billion take-off grant and claimed that ₦400 million had already been paid through a proxy, with an additional ₦200 million allegedly required to secure presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting or communicating with Matthew or authorising anyone to demand or receive money on his behalf.
He also rejected claims that he received the alleged ₦400 million or any other payment, abused his office, manipulated security agencies, intimidated media organisations or interfered with investigations involving the defendant.
The Chief of Staff further denied directing the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), or any other law enforcement agency to harass or investigate Matthew.
He also denied any involvement in matters relating to the late Babatunde Tanimola, who Matthew claimed acted as an intermediary and died in a hotel fire in Abuja in October 2025.
Gbajabiamila told the court that after reviewing the allegations, he instructed his solicitors to issue a cease-and-desist letter demanding an immediate withdrawal of the claims, a public retraction and an unconditional apology.
He said he chose not to respond publicly because he believed the courts were the appropriate forum to resolve the dispute, adding that the lawsuit was filed to protect both his personal reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
“I removed my hands from Adeniyi Adeyemi’s PFIPC SCANDAL immediately I discovered that Gbajabiamila is 100% innocent…..”
VDM pic.twitter.com/DtaiWUFaEo
— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) July 13, 2026
