Femi Gbajabiamila – Former Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives

Early Life

Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila was born on June 25, 1962, in Lagos State, Nigeria. His parents are Lateef Gbajabiamila and Olufunke Gbajabiamila. Lateef was involved in sports administration and Olufunke was a teacher, so Femi grew up in a home that valued education and service.

He lived in Lagos and spent his early years close to family and friends. He is from the Yoruba ethnic group, which is one of the major groups in southwestern Nigeria.

Educational Background

Femi started his primary school at Mainland Preparatory School in Lagos. When he was older, he went to Igbobi College, Lagos, for his secondary education starting in 1973.

After that, he travelled to the United Kingdom and attended King William’s College on the Isle of Man. He did his “A‑Levels” there, graduating at the top of his class.

He then returned to Nigeria and studied Law at the University of Lagos, earning an LL.B. degree with honours in 1983. He completed Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1984, becoming a qualified lawyer in Nigeria.

Later, he furthered his studies in the United States, earning a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2001. He passed the Georgia state bar exam and worked as a lawyer in the U.S. before returning to Nigeria.

Career

Legal Career

Femi started his legal career in Nigeria at a well-known Lagos law firm called Bentley Edu & Co. After gaining experience, he opened his own firm called Femi Gbaja & Co. in Lagos.

After finishing studies in the U.S., he practised law in Atlanta, Georgia, and even took part in a mayoral election campaign there for Bill Campbell, who later became mayor of Atlanta.

Political Career

In 2003, Femi Gbajabiamila entered politics and was elected to represent Surulere I constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy. He has since served six consecutive terms in the House, from 2003 to 2023.

He held many leadership positions:

• Minority Leader in the 7th National Assembly (2007–2015)
• Majority Leader in the 8th Assembly (2015–2019)
• Elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on June 11, 2019, with overwhelming support.

In June 2023, after serving 20 years, he resigned from the House and was appointed Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, making him one of the most powerful officials in the Federal Government.

Legislative Work and Reforms

During his long tenure in the House, Gbajabiamila championed many reforms:

• He chaired a House committee that investigated NPAMCON and large debts owed by companies like Zenon Petroleum & Forte Oil Plc, worth about ₦140 billion ($1 billion).
• He pushed for transparency in governance, including reforms around federal spending, the excess crude oil account, and the introduction of the Treasury Single Account policy.
• He opposed the extension of President Obasanjo’s term (known as the “third term agenda”) and led the movement in the House that ended it in 2007, risking his career to uphold democratic principles.

Personal Life 

Femi Gbajabiamila is married to Salamatu Gbajabiamila, who is also a lawyer and involved in community work. They have four children together. One of their daughters, Zaina Miuccia, is a fashion designer and social media influencer. The family is a private and respectful household that values service and education.

He is known as a religious person, practising Islam, and he cares deeply about his community, especially in Surulere, Lagos, where he often starts programs to help people find jobs and improve their lives.

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Controversies

Even respected leaders face criticism—and Femi Gbajabiamila has some controversies reported during his career:

1. Legal trouble in the United States
   While practising law in Georgia, he admitted to stealing $25,000 from a client in 2003. He was suspended by the Georgia bar for 36 months, repaid the client in 2006, and later was reinstated. But due to further violation, he was eventually disbarred in Georgia and is no longer allowed to practice law there.
2. Alleged bribe-taking over Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)
   In August 2021, during the passing of the PIB, reports from People’s Gazette claimed that lawmakers—including Gbajabiamila—received between $1.5 million and $2 million each to support the bill, which many Nigerians opposed. Other lawmakers reportedly received smaller amounts ($5,000 to $20,000), causing anger that the money was not shared equally. Neither he nor Senate President Ahmad Lawan responded publicly to these accusations.
3. Suspension and termination in U.S. bar
   As noted above, after his misconduct regarding client funds, he was formally suspended and barred from practicing law in Georgia, a major setback for his legal reputation internationally. That was confirmed by records of the Georgia state bar and reported widely.

Despite these controversies, he has continued to hold leadership roles in Nigeria—and has not been formally charged or convicted in Nigeria.

Social Media Presence

Femi Gbajabiamila has an active presence on social media. He uses these platforms to communicate with Nigerians and share updates about his work:

• Twitter: @femigbaja — his main and verified account since April 2012
• Instagram: @speakergbaja
• Facebook: Official page under the name Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila 

There have also been fake accounts, such as one called @SpeakerGbaja, claiming to be him, but he confirmed those were fake, and his real Twitter account is @femigbaja

Net Worth

Estimating net worth for public figures can be difficult:

• Some sources estimate Femi Gbajabiamila’s net worth at around $26 million USD. His earnings come from his long career in politics, legal practice in Nigeria and the U.S., and business interests.
• Other sources provide a lower estimate, around $3 to $5 million USD, based on standard political salaries and assets.

Because of varying estimates, the true amount is not publicly known. But what is clear is that he has held high-paying roles and managed several successful ventures over many years.