The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has fixed November 9, 10 and 13 for the commencement of trial in a N15bn defamation suit filed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, against Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Justice Samira Bature fixed the dates on Thursday after a disagreement between lawyers over Adeyemi’s request for additional time to file his defence.
At the resumed hearing, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers, Kemi Pinheiro and Olukayode Enitan, opposed the application made by Adeyemi’s counsel, M.P. Usman, for an extension of time.
Usman informed the court that he filed a memorandum of appearance on Wednesday, October 14, and requested additional time to respond to the suit.
However, Pinheiro argued that Adeyemi had received the relevant court documents on July 30, 2026, and that the deadline for filing his defence had expired in September.
He urged the court to prevent further delays, arguing that the integrity of a public officer was at stake in the matter.
Gbajabiamila’s legal team also requested three separate dates to enable them to present and conclude their case.
Following the arguments, Justice Bature scheduled the trial for November 9, 10 and 13.
Neither Gbajabiamila nor Adeyemi was present in court. Pinheiro and Enitan appeared for the claimant alongside Jamiu Agoro and Chioma Olisakwe, while Usman represented the defendant.
Background
Gbajabiamila filed the N15bn defamation suit over allegations by Adeyemi that the Chief of Staff demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a N27.3bn take-off grant allegedly approved for the PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has disowned.
Adeyemi reportedly made the allegations during a press conference on June 25, 2026, according to an earlier report by TheCable. He also alleged that Gbajabiamila received N400m through a proxy in connection with the purported agency.
On July 7, Gbajabiamila, through his lawyer, issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Adeyemi withdraw the allegations, take down related videos and publications, and issue a retraction and apology.
The demand specified that the apology should be published in at least five national newspapers and on the social media platforms where the allegations had circulated.
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Gbajabiamila subsequently approached the court, seeking N10bn in general damages, N5bn in aggravated damages and N200m as the cost of the legal action.
He is also asking the court to order Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and an unconditional apology in five national newspapers and display it on the relevant social media and online platforms for 30 consecutive days.
In his statement of claim, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi. He also denied authorising any intermediary to demand or collect money on his behalf.
The claimant further denied demanding any percentage of the alleged grant or receiving money, either directly or indirectly, from Adeyemi.
The court is expected to begin hearing the case on the dates fixed for trial.