Falana to Represent Accused in N400M Gbajabiamila Bribery, Forgery Allegations

Renowned human rights advocate, Femi Falana (SAN), has reportedly taken on the legal representation of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi. This development follows serious allegations of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and the use of forged presidential documents leveled against Adeyemi by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Adeyemi recently stirred controversy by accusing Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, of bribery. He claimed that Gbajabiamila demanded N400 million, with an additional N200 million, to facilitate his appointment as the head of a government agency. Furthermore, Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila sought 48% of his agency's proposed N27.4 billion take-off grant. He asserted that N400 million was already received by Gbajabiamila through an intermediary to secure the appointment, leaving an outstanding balance of N200 million. Adeyemi publicly challenged the Presidency to establish an independent panel for investigation, demanding that Gbajabiamila submit all official documents signed since assuming office for forensic examination.

In response, the Presidency on Wednesday mounted a vigorous defense of Gbajabiamila, releasing a detailed account of investigations. These investigations, according to the State House, purportedly exposed Adeyemi as the operator of a fictitious presidential agency for months prior to his corruption allegations against the presidential aide. Official records from the Office of the Chief of Staff, the 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 reportedly showed that Adeyemi was never appointed by President Tinubu or any government authority. Instead, he is accused of forging official documents to present himself as the Director-General of a non-existent entity named the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Concurrently, the Federal Government has instituted an eight-count charge against Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja. These charges encompass allegations of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and the illicit use of forged presidential documents. Despite the government's stance, Adeyemi maintains his claim to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, an agency which the government insists does not exist. Sources on Wednesday confirmed to SaharaReporters that Falana will represent Adeyemi in the ongoing legal proceedings.

The charge sheet, filed under the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, also implicates two other individuals identified only as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not disclosed. Both co-defendants are currently at large. According to the court document, Adeyemi, residing at the 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja, allegedly conspired with these two suspects to forge multiple official State House and presidential documents.

Specifically, Count One of the prosecution's charge alleges that the defendants conspired to commit forgery. The charge states: "That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew 'M' 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, on or about 8th day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit forgery and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2)(c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria." Count Two alleges the forging of a presidential appointment letter, purportedly issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and signed by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila. Count Three further accuses the defendants of forging official presidential letterheaded papers. The Federal Government also charges them with forging a request for collaboration involving the Ministry of the Area of Land Requisition and offices across Nigeria's 36 states (Count Four). In Count Five, Adeyemi is accused of falsely presenting himself as the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council between 2024 and 2025. The prosecution further alleges in Count Six that the defendants forged a request for office space purportedly issued from the State House. Count Seven states that the defendants forged a request seeking approval of staff account status, also purportedly from the State House. The final count, Count Eight, accuses the defendants of forging a conveyance approval related to the re-takeoff of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

Earlier reports by SaharaReporters indicated that the Nigeria Police had initially charged Adeyemi over allegations of forging presidential appointment letters and other State House documents to operate the fictitious PFIPC agency. The police case originated from a petition submitted by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President on October 17, 2025, concerning the circulation of forged appointment letters supposedly from that office. The interim investigation report confirmed the case as an alleged forgery and impersonation reported against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew.

Police investigators' findings revealed that forged documents, complete with falsified signatures, seals, and reference numbers, were employed to create the impression that the suspect held a leadership position in non-existent federal government entities, particularly the 'Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).' Investigators further claimed that Adeyemi openly operated from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, presenting himself as the council's Director-General.

Adeyemi's arrest occurred on October 27, 2025, at the alleged office where he operated, and his statement was recorded. Subsequently, search warrants were executed at his office and his residence in APC Quarters, Suleja, Niger State, leading to the recovery of several vital documents and exhibits now in police custody for analysis.

During interrogation, Adeyemi claimed that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola assisted him in procuring the purported fake appointment letter for the Director-General role. However, efforts to locate Tanimola revealed that he had reportedly died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel, Utako, Abuja. This account of his death was corroborated by interviews with Tanimola's sister, the hotel proprietor, officials of the National Hospital, Abuja, and St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Maitama.

The police also investigated the involvement of three staff members from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation who were posted to Adeyemi's alleged office. On November 10, 2025, these staff members confirmed in voluntary statements that they were posted on August 28, 2025, but did not engage in any official activities throughout their posting period. Further financial intelligence from the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) reportedly uncovered 34 bank accounts linked to the suspect.