Court Fixes November Dates for Gbajabiamila’s N15bn Defamation Suit

 

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has fixed November 9, 10 and 13 for the definite trial of a N15 billion defamation suit instituted by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.

Justice Samira Bature fixed the dates on Thursday following a disagreement between counsel over the defendant’s failure to file his statement of defence within the prescribed period.

At the resumed hearing in suit number FCT/HC/CV/3179/2026, counsel to Matthew, M.P. Usman, told the court that he had filed a memorandum of appearance on October 14 and requested additional time to file his client’s defence.

However, Gbajabiamila’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and Olukayode Enitan, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the defendant had been served with the relevant court processes since July 30, 2026.

Pinheiro, who addressed the court on behalf of the claimant, said the period allowed for the defendant to respond had expired in September without any defence being filed. He urged the court to fix definite trial dates, arguing that the claimant’s integrity as a public officer was at stake and that the case should proceed without further delay.

The claimant’s counsel also requested three consecutive dates to enable Gbajabiamila to present and conclude his case within the scheduled period. Justice Bature subsequently adjourned the matter to November 9, 10 and 13 for definite trial. Neither Gbajabiamila nor Matthew was personally present in court.

In the suit, Gbajabiamila is seeking N15 billion in damages over allegations by Matthew that he demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.

The claimant is seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages and N200 million as the cost of the action. He is also asking the court to compel Matthew to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers and on all social media platforms and online channels where the allegedly defamatory statements appeared, with the apology to remain available for 30 days.

In his statement of claim, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting or communicating with Matthew or authorising anyone to act on his behalf. He also denied demanding any percentage of the alleged grant or receiving money from the defendant, either directly or through an intermediary.