A 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 filed by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
Justice Samira Bature fixed the dates on Thursday after a disagreement between lawyers over the defendant’s failure to file his defence within the time prescribed by the court.
The case, marked FCT/HC/CV/3179/2026, came up for hearing after counsel to Matthew, M.P. Usman, told the court that he had filed a memorandum of appearance on Wednesday, October 14.
Usman subsequently sought additional time to file his client’s defence.
However, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and Olukayode Enitan, SAN, opposed the request, arguing that the defendant had been served with the relevant court processes since July 30, 2026.
Pinheiro, who led the claimant’s legal team, told the court that the period allowed for the defendant to respond had expired in September, but that no defence had been filed.
He urged the court to proceed with the matter and assign definite trial dates, stressing that the case concerned allegations capable of affecting the integrity and reputation of a serving public officer.
The lawyer also requested three consecutive trial dates to enable Gbajabiamila to present and conclude his case without further delay.
Justice Bature subsequently adjourned the suit to November 9, 10 and 13 for definite trial.
Neither Gbajabiamila nor Matthew was present in court.
Pinheiro and Enitan appeared for the claimant, alongside Jamiu Agoro and Chioma Olisakwe, while Usman represented the defendant.
Gbajabiamila instituted the suit 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 Chief of Staff is seeking N10 billion in general damages and N5 billion in aggravated damages, as well as N200 million as the cost of prosecuting the suit.
He is also asking the court to order 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 were published.
The claimant wants the apology to remain published 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 N27.3 billion grant or receiving money from the defendant, either directly or through an intermediary.