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Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a N15 billion defamation suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew over allegations that he demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.
In the suit, Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, N200 million as the cost of the action, and an order directing Matthew to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers.
He is also wants the court to compel the defendant to pin the apology on all social media platforms and online channels where the disputed statements were allegedly published for 30 days.
The suit, filed through Pinheiro LP, with a legal team led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), alongside Folu Oguntade (SAN), Olukayode Enitan (SAN) and Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN), described the allegations against the Chief of Staff as false, malicious and defamatory.
According to the statement of claim, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting, communicating with, or authorising Matthew or anyone acting on his behalf to demand or receive money.
The claimant is challenging allegations made by Matthew at a press conference, where he alleged that a dispute arose after Gbajabiamila purportedly demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.
Matthew also alleged that N400 million had already been paid through a proxy on behalf of the Chief of Staff, while an additional N200 million was allegedly required to secure presidential approvals.
However, Gbajabiamila, in the court processes, denied the allegations in their entirety.
“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 statement of claim reads.
The claimant also denied allegations linking him to the alleged death of one Babatunde Tanimola, whom Matthew claimed acted as an intermediary between them.
Matthew had alleged that Tanimola died in a hotel fire in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, a day after the Chief of Staff allegedly petitioned the police. He also claimed he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in September 2025 and alleged that a directive from “above” caused security agencies to discontinue efforts to recover mobile phones he claimed contained evidence relating to the allegations.
Court documents filed by the claimant state that Gbajabiamila’s solicitors issued a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, which was published in several national newspapers, including THISDAY, on July 7, 2026, demanding a withdrawal of the allegations, a public retraction and an unconditional apology.
According to the claimant, rather than retract the statements, Matthew subsequently granted an interview to social media influencer VeryDarkMan.
In his witness statement on oath, Gbajabiamila alleged that Matthew made statements during the interview which, according to him, differed from the categorical allegations made during the earlier press conference.
The claimant stated that Matthew said he had never met him personally, never held a video call with him and had no independent means of verifying the identity of the person he believed to be the Chief of Staff, maintaining that all communications were allegedly conducted through the late Tanimola.
Gbajabiamila further stated that Matthew said he could neither affirm nor deny the truth of the allegations and indicated his intention to submit documents in his possession to law enforcement agencies for investigation.
According to the claimant, despite those statements, Matthew repeated the allegations during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television on July 13, 2026.
The court filings also state that Matthew is facing criminal charges before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/652/2026: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew & Others, over allegations relating to forged presidential documents and forged appointment letters. Those charges remain allegations before the court.
The FCT High Court has directed Matthew, whose address was listed as unknown but who is deemed to be within the court’s jurisdiction, to enter an appearance within 14 days after service of the originating processes, failing which judgment may be entered against him in default.
In his witness statement, Gbajabiamila maintained that allegations accusing him of demanding bribes, abusing his office and interfering with law enforcement agencies were false and had caused significant damage to his personal and professional reputation.
The Chief of Staff, a legal practitioner and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said he had built his public reputation over several decades on integrity and faithful service, arguing that while public officials should be open to scrutiny, the allegations against him amounted to false accusations of corruption, bribery, abuse of office and other criminal conduct presented as facts.
He told the court that his attention was drawn around June 25, 2026, to the press conference addressed by Matthew, which was widely circulated on television, online news platforms and social media.
Gbajabiamila stated that after reviewing the publications, he instructed his solicitors to issue a cease-and-desist letter because he expected the defendant to withdraw the allegations if they were based on misinformation.
Instead, he alleged, Matthew continued granting media interviews and repeating the claims.
The claimant further denied demanding any percentage of the alleged take-off grant, receiving N400 million or any other sum through a proxy, requesting an additional N200 million, abusing his office or interfering with the activities of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or any other law enforcement agency.
He also denied any involvement in, or knowledge of, the circumstances surrounding the death of Babatunde Tanimola or the alleged attempts on Matthew’s life.
Gbajabiamila told the court that he deliberately refrained from responding publicly because he believed the matter should be resolved through judicial proceedings rather than in the media.
He urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought, stating that the action was instituted to protect both his personal reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no indication in the court processes that the defendant had filed a defence to the suit.
The allegations contained in the suit remain claims by the claimant and are yet to be determined by the court. Efforts to obtain Matthew’s response to the civil action were not immediately successful.
