Falana Defends Gbajabiamila Accuser: Inside the N400M Bribery Saga and Forgery Mess
By: Abudu Olalekan
Femi Falana doesn’t back down from a fight. And this one’s messy.
The senior advocate has agreed to defend Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi. You remember him? The guy who dropped bombshell allegations against Femi Gbajabiamila, claiming the Chief of Staff demanded N400 million to secure him a plum government appointment. Plus another N200 million that was supposedly still pending.
Yeah, that guy.
Adeyemi had went public with claims that Gbajabiamila wanted 48 percent of his agency’s N27.4 billion take-off grant. He challenged the Presidency to set up an independent panel. Told them to produce every document Gbajabiamila signed since assuming office for forensic examination.
The Presidency didn’t take it lying down.
Instead, they came out swinging on Wednesday. Released a detailed statement calling Adeyemi a fraud. According to them this man was running a fictitious presidential agency months before he even made those corruption allegations.
The State House dug deep. Checked records from the Chief of Staff’s office, Foreign Affairs Ministry, National Security Adviser, SGF office, even the Police. Their findings? Adeyemi was never appointed by President Tinubu or anybody in government. They say he forged official documents to make himself Director-General of something called the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. PFIPC for short. An agency that doesn’t even exist.
Now the government’s slapped him with an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, using forged presidential documents. The works.
And here’s where it gets interesting. Sources confirmed to Reportersroom that Femi Falana has taken up his defence.
The charge sheet lists two other suspects. Femi and Anu. No surnames provided. They’re currently at large.
According to the prosecution, Adeyemi who operates from 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja, allegedly conspired with these two to forge several State House documents. Count One alleges conspiracy to commit forgery. Count Two claims he forged a presidential appointment letter supposedly signed by President Tinubu and Gbajabiamila himself. Count Three involves forging official letterheaded papers.
They even alleged he forged a request for collaboration with some Ministry of Land Requisition across all 36 states. Between 2024 to 2025, he allegedly presented himself as DG of this phantom council. More forged requests for office space. Staff account status approvals. Even a conveyance approval relating to the re-takeoff of some Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
Earlier reports had indicated police charged Adeyemi over these forged appointment letters. The case started with a petition from the Chief of Staff’s office after complaints about fake appointment letters circulating around.
The interim investigation report stated the case involves “an alleged case of forgery and impersonation” reported via letter dated October 17, 2025.
Police findings revealed the forged documents had falsified signatures, reference numbers, and seals. Used to claim leadership of non-existing entities, particularly the PFIPC.
And he wasn’t hiding in some back room. Investigators said Adeyemi operated openly from the Federal Secretariat Complex. Right there in the open.
They arrested him on October 27, 2025, at his purported office. Recorded his statement under caution. Executed search warrants at his office and his residence in APC Quarters, Suleja, Niger State.
During the search, they recovered vital documents and exhibits.
Now here’s a twist. During interrogation, Adeyemi claimed one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola helped him procure the fake appointment letter. But when police tried to trace this Tanimola, they discovered he had died. Fire incident at Kachi Hotel, Utako, Abuja.
Police verified this through interviews with the deceased’s sister, the hotel proprietor, National Hospital officials, and St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama.
They also interviewed three staff from the Accountant-General’s office who were supposedly posted to Adeyemi’s office. These staff confirmed they were posted on August 28, 2025, but never engaged in any official activities throughout their posting period.
Then there’s the money trail. NFIU records show Adeyemi maintains thirty-four active bank accounts across various commercial banks. Thirty-four. Plus an account opened with the Central Bank of Nigeria under the name of the purported agency.
Police concluded that PFIPC was never a recognized government institution. That Adeyemi deliberately forged official presidential documents to fraudulently represent himself as a Federal Government appointee.
The evidence, they say, supports criminal prosecution.
So now Falana steps into the ring. To defend a man accused of running a fake government agency while accusing one of the President’s closest aides of massive bribery.
This case just got started.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
