July 07, (THEWILL) — The legal battle surrounding the alleged fake presidential appointment of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew has taken a fresh turn as Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, issued the embattled defendant a 72-hour ultimatum to retract allegations made against him or face criminal prosecution and a N10 billion defamation suit.
Gbajabiamila’s lawyers, Kemi Pinheiro, in a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, accused Adeyemi of embarking on a “trial by media” by making what they described as false, malicious and defamatory allegations while standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged forgery.
The law firm, through Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, argued that rather than defend himself before the court, Adeyemi chose to convene a press conference on June 25 where he levelled a series of allegations against the Chief of Staff, which were subsequently circulated across print, broadcast, and social media platforms.
According to the solicitors, the allegations portrayed Gbajabiamila as corrupt, dishonest, morally bankrupt, and unfit to occupy public office, despite being unsupported by any credible evidence.
Among other claims, Adeyemi allegedly accused the Chief of Staff of demanding 48 per cent of the take-off grant of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), receiving N400 million through proxies in relation to appointments into the organisation, manipulating security agencies, interfering in budgetary processes, intimidating individuals and media organisations, abusing public office, and engaging in other acts of corruption and criminality.
The lawyers also said the press conference contained allegations linking Gbajabiamila to murder and an alleged cover-up, describing the claims as reckless, malicious, and calculated to damage his reputation.
Pinheiro maintained that its client had never met, communicated with, or maintained any personal or official relationship with Adeyemi, insisting that the allegations could not have arisen from any direct dealings between them.
“The publication goes far beyond fair comment or political criticism. It consists of grave allegations of criminality, corruption, abuse of office, bribery, extortion, obstruction of justice, and official misconduct made without any lawful justification or supporting evidence,” the letter stated.
The solicitors further argued that the allegations were particularly troubling because Adeyemi is already facing prosecution in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026, FRN v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Ors, over allegations bordering on forgery, including the alleged forgery of an appointment letter and presidential letterhead purportedly issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the law firm, several of the allegations raised during the press conference touch directly on issues already before the court, making the media campaign an attempt to influence public opinion outside the judicial process.
“It is even more disturbing to our client that you resorted to defaming him through your press statements after criminal charges had already been filed against you. Trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process,” the solicitors stated.
The lawyers said the publications had generated widespread public attention, exposing the Chief of Staff to ridicule and compelling friends, political associates, and members of the public to seek clarification over the allegations.
Consequently, Pinheiro demanded that Adeyemi immediately withdraw the allegations, cease making further defamatory statements, remove all videos, transcripts, and related publications from every platform under his control, and publish a full, unequivocal, and unreserved apology.
The proposed apology, the letter stated, must acknowledge that the allegations were false and without factual basis and be published with equal prominence in at least five national newspapers, as well as on every digital and social media platform through which the allegations were disseminated.
The solicitors also demanded a written undertaking that no further defamatory statements would be made against Gbajabiamila.
They warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would trigger both criminal and civil proceedings without further notice.
According to the letter, the proposed legal action will include a criminal complaint for alleged criminal defamation under the applicable laws of the Federal Capital Territory and a civil suit seeking N10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
Pinheiro added that any damages eventually awarded would be donated to charity at the discretion of the Chief of Staff.
The proposed suit will also seek a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyemi from making further defamatory statements against Gbajabiamila and a mandatory court order compelling him to publish a retraction and apology.
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