ABUJA, Nigeria – Femi Gbajabiamila, who served as the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, and was also a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has faced a professional setback.
His license to practice law has been revoked by the State Bar of Georgia in the US following allegations of corruption and professional misconduct.
Reports by the Peoples Gazette reveal that Mr. Gbajabiamila was expelled from the prominent legal institution on July 1, 2020.
The decision came in the wake of accusations of misappropriation of client funds and subsequent negligence towards his membership dues.
An aggrieved client initiated the series of events by lodging a complaint alleging financial theft against Gbajabiamila.
Following this, he reportedly failed to honor his membership obligations, including fee payments. Sources informed the Gazette that all efforts to reach Gbajabiamila through his address in Atlanta were met with resistance.
He faced an initial suspension on July 2, 2015, for a period of five years. Subsequently, this suspension culminated in the final termination of his membership on July 1, 2020.
During these controversies in the US, Gbajabiamila was concurrently functioning as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria.
An official of the Georgia Bar informed the Gazette, “He can no longer practice law in the state of Georgia. He’s done.”
The Supreme Court of Georgia, in a unanimous decision on February 26, 2007, had previously suspended Mr. Gbajabiamila for a 36-month period.
This decision was taken post his confession of misappropriating $25,000 from a client. Although he was reinstated after this period, he later engaged in activities leading to his permanent dismissal.
The Supreme Court’s report stated, “Mr. Gbajabiamila, who has only been a member of the bar since 2001, admits to the misappropriation of a client’s settlement funds, which led him to close his practice and move out of the country.”
He returned the funds in 2006, likely in an effort to obtain a reduced sentence.
While Gbajabiamila remained unresponsive to the Gazette’s outreach attempts, the shadow of corruption allegations continues to trail him.
Recent claims from within the ruling All Progressives Congress suggest he accepted bribes to facilitate appointments to crucial government roles.
Although Gbajabiamila has yet to address these allegations publicly, his allies label the accusers as “saboteurs.”
