Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights lawyer Femi Falana has agreed to represent Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations linked to claims that President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded hundreds of millions of naira in exchange for a federal appointment.
Key Highlights
Femi Falana joins legal team defending Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Defendant faces an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, conspiracy, impersonation and use of forged documents.
Case stems from Gbajabiamila bribery allegations involving an alleged federal appointment.
Presidency dismisses the allegations as false and unfounded.
Federal Government alleges the defendant forged State House documents and impersonated a government official.
Trial continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case has drawn widespread public attention following Adeyemi’s allegations that the Chief of Staff to the President requested substantial payments and a percentage of a purported government grant in exchange for facilitating his appointment to head a federal agency. The Presidency has firmly denied the claims, maintaining that investigations found no evidence to support the allegations.
Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, conspiracy, impersonation and the use of forged presidential documents.
According to court filings, the defendant alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded an initial payment of N400 million, followed by an additional N200 million, as well as 48 per cent of a purported N27.4 billion take-off grant, to secure his appointment as the head of a federal agency.
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Sources familiar with the proceedings disclosed that Falana will now lead Adeyemi’s legal defence as the case progresses before the Federal High Court.
Adeyemi further claimed that the initial N400 million was allegedly paid through an intermediary, while the balance remained unpaid. He also called for an independent investigation into his allegations and urged the Presidency to subject official documents signed by Gbajabiamila since assuming office to forensic examination.
The Presidency, however, has rejected the allegations, describing them as false, baseless and without merit.
In a statement issued by the State House, the Presidency said investigations involving the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Nigeria Police Force concluded that Adeyemi was never appointed by President Bola Tinubu or any recognised government authority.
According to the Presidency, the defendant allegedly forged official State House documents and falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting that no such government agency exists.
Despite the government’s position, Adeyemi maintains that he is the legitimate Director-General of the PFIPC.
Court documents filed by the Federal Government identify Adeyemi as the first defendant alongside two other suspects, identified only as Femi and Anu, who remain at large.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants conspired to produce forged presidential and State House documents for unlawful purposes.
The matter is expected to continue before the Federal High Court as both the prosecution and defence prepare to present their cases.
