{
  "id": 14826652,
  "title": "Fake agency: Gbajabiamila seeks speedy trial over kickback claim",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/fake-agency-gbajabiamila-seeks-speedy-trial-over-kickback-claim",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T00:36:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/fake-agency-gbajabiamila-seeks-speedy-trial-over-kickback-claim/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, allegedly for demanding a 48% kickback from a N27.3 billion take-off grant. The suit was filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and is set to proceed to trial from November 9 to 13. Adeyemi's lawyer, M.P. Usman, requested additional time to prepare and file his client's defence, which was opposed by Gbajabiamila's lawyers Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) and Olukayode Enitan (SAN). The court granted the request for definite trial dates and adjourned the matter to the specified dates. Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, N200 million in legal costs, and an order for Adeyemi to retract the alleged defamatory statements and publish an apology in five national newspapers.",
  "summary": "An FCT High Court has fixed November 9 for the trial of a N15bn defamation suit filed by Femi Gbajabiamila against a man who accused him of demanding kickb Read More: https://punchng.com/fake-agency-gbajabiamila-seeks-speedy-trial-over-kickback-claim/",
  "key_points": [
    "Gbajabiamila files N15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi Adeyemi",
    "Trial set for November 9-13 at Federal Capital Territory, Abuja",
    "Adeyemi's lawyer requests additional time for defence preparation"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The pursuit of rapid legal adjudication signals an attempt by the Chief of Staff to swiftly discredit an alleged extortion scheme involving a fraudulent government agency.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Fake agency: Gbajabiamila seeks speedy trial over kickback claim",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/fake-agency-gbajabiamila-seeks-speedy-trial-over-kickback-claim-14830096",
        "published": "2026-10-16T00:56:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}