Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu,

Femi Gbajabiamila

has sued Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), for alleged defamation.

In the suit filed before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court through a legal team from Pinheiro LP led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion as general damages, N5 billion as aggravated damages, and N200 million as the cost of the action.

The claimant asked the court to compel Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and unconditional apology in five national newspapers.

He also demanded an apology pinned for 30 days on all social media platforms and online channels where the disputed statements were circulated.

In the statement of claim, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting, communicating or having any personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi.

“The claimant has never met the defendant, never held any meeting with him and has never authorised any intermediary, representative, agent or proxy to demand or receive money on his behalf,” the court filing stated.

He also distanced himself from the claim that he authorised anyone to negotiate for or receive financial benefits from Adeyemi in connection with the alleged agency.

Adeyemi had alleged at a press conference that a disagreement arose between him and the Chief of Staff after Gbajabiamila purportedly demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s proposed ₦27.3bn take-off grant.

He also claimed that ₦400m had been paid through a proxy for the Chief of Staff and that another ₦200m was required to obtain presidential approvals.

Gbajabiamila denied receiving the alleged ₦400m, the purported outstanding ₦200m or any other money from Adeyemi or his associates.

He said that the allegations accusing him of bribery, abuse of office and corruption were fabricated.

The suit also addressed Adeyemi’s claims concerning the late Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as an intermediary between himself and Gbajabiamila.