The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has fixed November 9, 10 and 13, 2026, for the commencement of trial in a ₦15 billion defamation suit filed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, against Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Samira Bature fixed the dates on Thursday following a disagreement between lawyers over Adeyemi’s request for additional time to file his defence.
At the resumed hearing, Adeyemi’s counsel, M.P. Usman, informed the court that he had filed a memorandum of appearance on October 14 and requested more time to respond to the suit.
However, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers, Kemi Pinheiro and Olukayode Enitan, opposed the request, arguing that Adeyemi had been served with the relevant court documents on July 30 and that the deadline for filing his defence had expired in September.
Pinheiro urged the court to prevent further delays, arguing that the case concerned the reputation and integrity of a public officer.
Gbajabiamila’s legal team also requested three trial dates to enable the claimant to present and conclude his case.
Justice Bature subsequently scheduled the substantive hearing for November 9, 10 and 13.
Neither Gbajabiamila nor Adeyemi was present in court during the proceedings. The claimant was represented by Pinheiro and Enitan, alongside Jamiu Agoro and Chioma Olisakwe, while Usman represented the defendant.
The suit arose from allegations by Adeyemi that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a purported ₦27.3 billion take-off grant allegedly approved for the PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency has disowned.
Adeyemi reportedly made the allegations during a press conference on June 25, 2026. He also alleged that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy in connection with the purported organisation.
On July 7, Gbajabiamila, through his lawyers, issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Adeyemi withdraw the allegations, remove related videos and publications, and publish a retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and on the social media platforms where the claims appeared.
Gbajabiamila subsequently instituted the ₦15 billion suit, seeking ₦10 billion in general damages, ₦5 billion in aggravated damages and ₦200 million to cover the cost of the legal action.
He is also asking the court to compel Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and an unconditional apology in five national newspapers and display the apology on relevant social media and online platforms for 30 consecutive days.
In his statement of claim, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi or authorising any intermediary to demand or collect money on his behalf.
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