Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has instituted a N15 billion defamation suit against Prince 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 purported N27.3 billion take-off grant approved for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The Presidency has maintained that the PFIPC does not exist.
In the suit, Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion as general damages, N5 billion as aggravated damages, and N200 million as the cost of litigation. He is also asking the court to compel Matthew to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers and across all social media platforms and online channels where the allegations were circulated for 30 consecutive days.
According to court documents filed by his legal team from Pinheiro LP, led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Kemi Pinheiro, Folu Oguntade, Olukayode Enitan, and Chukwudi Enebeli, the allegations are false, malicious and defamatory.
Matthew had alleged during a press conference that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent kickback from the agency’s N27.3 billion take-off grant. He further claimed that N400 million had already been paid through a proxy on behalf of the Chief of Staff, while an additional N200 million was required to facilitate presidential approvals.
He also alleged that an intermediary, Babatunde Tanimola, who reportedly introduced him to the Chief of Staff, died in a suspicious hotel fire in Utako, Abuja, in October 2025. Matthew further claimed he survived an assassination attempt and accused top security agencies of abandoning investigations into his stolen mobile phones on the orders of unnamed authorities.
Gbajabiamila, however, denied ever meeting or communicating with Matthew or authorising anyone to act on his behalf.
“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.
The Chief of Staff said his solicitors had earlier issued a cease-and-desist notice published in national newspapers on July 7, 2026. Rather than withdraw the allegations, Matthew allegedly granted further interviews, including one with social media influencer VeryDarkMan.
In his witness statement, Gbajabiamila said Matthew admitted during the interview that he had never met him physically, conducted a video call or independently verified the identity of the individual he believed to be the Chief of Staff. He reportedly acknowledged that all his communications were through the late Tanimola.
Despite those admissions, Gbajabiamila alleged that Matthew repeated the allegations during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television on July 13, 2026.
The court filings also revealed that Matthew is already facing criminal prosecution before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a case involving alleged forged presidential documents and forged appointment letters. Gbajabiamila’s legal team argued that the criminal charges stem from the same claims publicly made by the defendant.
The FCT High Court has directed Matthew, whose address was listed as unknown but deemed within the court’s jurisdiction, to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served, failing which judgment may be entered against him.
In his deposition, Gbajabiamila described the allegations of bribery, abuse of office and interference with law enforcement agencies as entirely false and damaging to both his personal and professional reputation.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives maintained that he had never met Matthew and had no personal, official or professional relationship with him. He insisted that his decades of public service had been built on integrity, honesty and commitment to duty.
He further denied demanding any kickback, receiving the alleged N400 million or N200 million, manipulating security agencies, intimidating media organisations or interfering with investigations involving Matthew or any other individual.
Gbajabiamila also denied any involvement in the death of Tanimola or the alleged attempts on Matthew’s life.
According to him, he chose not to respond publicly to the allegations because he believed the matter should be resolved in court. He said the suit was filed not only to clear his name but also to protect the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff from what he described as reckless and unfounded accusations.
Meanwhile, police arrested Matthew in Osun State on Tuesday after he failed to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he is facing criminal charges. Justice Mohammed Umar subsequently ordered his arrest.
