The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over allegations that he demanded a 48 per cent 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 an order directing the defendant to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers and on all social media platforms where the alleged defamatory statements were published.

In court documents seen by Channels Television, the Chief of Staff denied ever meeting or communicating with Matthew Adeyemi or authorising anyone to demand or receive money on his behalf.

The claimant, through his legal team led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), described the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.

Other members of the legal team are Folu Oguntade, Olukayode Enitan, and Chukwudi Enebeli, all senior advocates of Nigeria.

The suit they filed on behalf of their client followed allegations by Adeyemi during a press conference that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent kickback from the agency’s ₦27.3 billion take-off grant, allegedly receiving ₦400 million through a proxy while demanding an additional ₦200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.

Gbajabiamila, however, maintained in his statement on oath that he had no personal, official, or professional relationship with the defendant and denied demanding or receiving any money, abusing his office, or interfering with law enforcement agencies.

He also denied any involvement in the alleged death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi Matthew claimed acted as an intermediary, as well as allegations linking him to an alleged assassination attempt on the defendant or interference with investigations by security agencies.

According to the court documents, the claimant’s solicitors issued a cease-and-desist letter on July 6, 2026, demanding a retraction and apology, which was published in national newspapers the following day.

Rather than withdraw the allegations, the suit alleged that Adeyemi Matthew granted further interviews, including one with social media influencer VeryDarkMan and another on Politics Today on Channels Television on July 13, 2026.

Gbajabiamila told the court that during one of the interviews, Adeyemi Matthew admitted he had never met him in person or independently verified the identity of the person he believed to be the Chief of Staff, saying all communications were allegedly conducted through the late Tanimola.

The claimant argued that despite those admissions, the defendant continued to repeat the allegations publicly, causing further damage to his reputation.

Court documents also disclosed that Adeyemi Matthew is facing a separate criminal trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a case involving allegations of forged presidential documents and forged appointment letters.

Gbajabiamila told the court that the allegations had damaged his personal and professional reputation, describing them as false accusations of corruption, bribery and abuse of office.

He said he chose to seek redress through the courts rather than respond in the media, adding that the action was intended to protect both his reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The FCT High Court has directed him to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served with the originating processes, failing which judgment may be entered against him in default. (Channels)

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