Gbajabiamila has demanded a public retraction from PFIPC DG Adeyemi Adeniyi within 72 hours or face civil and criminal proceedings, including a N10bn suit.
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Olufemi Gbajabiamila, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Adeyemi Adeniyi, the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), demanding the immediate withdrawal of allegations linking him to the activities of the disputed organisation.
The ultimatum was delivered through Gbajabiamila’s legal representatives, Pinheiro LP, who warned that failure to comply within the specified period would trigger both civil and criminal legal proceedings.
In a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kemi Pinheiro, the legal team described a series of allegations made by Adeniyi as false, defamatory and completely unsupported by evidence.
The dispute stems from a press conference held by Adeniyi on June 25, 2026, during which he reportedly accused the President’s Chief of Staff of corruption, abuse of office, bribery, extortion, budget manipulation, interference with security agencies, murder and other criminal acts.
According to the letter, Adeniyi further alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the take-off grant intended for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
He also claimed that the Chief of Staff received N400 million through proxies in connection with appointments into the organisation and used his office to intimidate individuals, institutions and media organisations.
Gbajabiamila’s lawyers rejected the allegations in their entirety, insisting they were fabricated to damage his reputation and erode public confidence in his office.
They argued that the accusations portrayed the Chief of Staff as dishonest, corrupt and unfit to occupy public office despite the absence of any credible evidence.
The legal team stressed that Gbajabiamila had never met or communicated with Adeniyi, whether officially or privately.
They maintained that there had never been any relationship between the two men that could reasonably support the claims made during the media briefing.
According to the lawyers, the allegations exceeded the boundaries of legitimate political criticism because they accused a senior public official of serious criminal offences without presenting any verifiable proof.
The cease-and-desist letter also linked Adeniyi’s public statements to an ongoing criminal prosecution pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The lawyers stated that Adeniyi is currently standing trial in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Others, over allegations bordering on forgery.
The case reportedly involves accusations that appointment documents and presidential letterheads were forged to falsely suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed Adeniyi to the disputed office.
Gbajabiamila’s legal team argued that several issues raised during the June 25 press conference are already before the court, describing the media appearance as an attempt to influence public perception while judicial proceedings remain ongoing. They characterised the briefing as a clear example of a “trial by media.”
The lawyers also said the widespread publication of the allegations has caused substantial reputational damage to the Chief of Staff.
According to the letter, the claims have exposed Gbajabiamila to public ridicule and generated repeated enquiries from political associates, friends, professional contacts and members of the public seeking clarification over the allegations.
As part of the demands contained in the notice, Adeniyi has been instructed to immediately stop making or circulating any further statements considered defamatory.
He has also been directed to remove every video, transcript, publication and digital content containing the allegations from websites, online platforms and social media accounts under his control.
Beyond removing the publications, the legal team demanded a full retraction accompanied by an unreserved public apology.
The apology, they said, must receive equal prominence to the original allegations by appearing in at least five national newspapers, on every platform where the claims were circulated and across all relevant social media channels.
The notice also requires Adeniyi to provide a written undertaking confirming that neither he nor anyone acting on his behalf will make similar allegations against the Chief of Staff in the future.
Pinheiro warned that if the demands are ignored after the expiration of the 72-hour deadline, Gbajabiamila will commence legal action without further notice.
The proposed civil lawsuit will seek N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged injury caused to the Chief of Staff’s reputation.
According to the legal team, Gbajabiamila has pledged to donate the entire amount to charitable causes should the court eventually award the damages in his favour.
In addition to monetary compensation, the anticipated court action will seek a perpetual injunction restraining Adeniyi from making further defamatory statements and a mandatory order compelling him to publish a comprehensive retraction and public apology.
The latest development adds another chapter to the growing controversy surrounding PFIPC and signals what could become a prolonged legal battle between both parties if the demands contained in the cease-and-desist notice are not met within the stipulated timeframe.
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