Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reportedly filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the controversial promoter of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), escalating a dispute that has become one of the most talked-about political controversies in Nigeria.
The lawsuit is the latest development in the ongoing PFIPC scandal, which has drawn national attention following allegations that the council operated as a non-existent government agency despite securing a budget allocation and office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila’s legal action follows a series of public allegations made by Adeyemi during a press conference and in subsequent media appearances. Adeyemi had accused the Chief of Staff of corruption, abuse of office, bribery, fraud and involvement in a wider cover-up surrounding the PFIPC controversy. Gbajabiamila has consistently denied the allegations, describing them as false, malicious and damaging to his reputation.
Earlier this month, Gbajabiamila, through his lawyers led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kemi Pinheiro, issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Adeyemi retract the allegations within 72 hours or face legal action. The legal team also demanded the removal of videos and publications containing the claims. At the time, the Chief of Staff threatened a ₦10 billion defamation suit and possible criminal proceedings if the allegations were not withdrawn.
The dispute is closely linked to investigations into the PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency has described as fictitious. According to official statements, authorities allege that Adeyemi forged government documents, impersonated public officials and used forged presidential authorisations to present himself as head of the council. The Presidency also claimed that forged documents bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature were used in the process.
Court records indicate that Adeyemi and two others are already facing criminal charges, including allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. The case is scheduled to continue before a Federal Capital Territory court in Abuja later this month.
The PFIPC controversy has generated intense political debate after reports emerged that the council was included in the 2026 federal budget with an allocation estimated at about ₦1.3 billion and was reportedly allocated office space within the Federal Secretariat. The revelations prompted President Bola Tinubu to direct anti-corruption agencies to investigate the matter, while lawmakers in the House of Representatives launched separate inquiries into how the entity gained official recognition.
Gbajabiamila has maintained that he has no relationship with Adeyemi and was among the first government officials to alert law enforcement agencies after discovering that his signature and official documents had allegedly been forged. The Presidency has repeatedly defended the Chief of Staff, insisting that claims linking him to the establishment or operation of the PFIPC are unfounded.
As of the time of filing this report, Adeyemi had not publicly indicated whether he would retract the allegations or challenge the lawsuit in court.
The case is expected to attract significant public attention as it unfolds alongside the broader criminal investigation into the PFIPC affair, which has raised fresh questions about oversight, document verification and accountability within government institutions.
