PFIPC: Pro-Atiku US Lobbyist To Inform Trump Administration Of Adeyemi’s Arrest

A United States lobbying firm hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Von Batten-Montague-York, has said it will brief officials in President Donald Trump’s administration on the arrest of self-proclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.

The Washington-based firm disclosed this in a statement posted on its X account on Wednesday, hours after Adeyemi was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to the firm, Adeyemi was due to meet senior officials in the Trump administration over allegations he had made against top Nigerian government officials before his arrest.

“We learned a short time ago that Mr. Adeyemi has been arrested by Nigerian law enforcement just as we were preparing for him to speak with senior members of President @realDonaldTrump’s Administration,” the statement read.

The firm said Adeyemi was expected to submit documentary evidence and a sworn statement to U.S. officials.

“We are told that his arrest occurred shortly after it became public that we were in contact with him and just before he was expected to provide us with evidentiary materials and a sworn statement regarding his account.

“Those materials were to be transmitted to senior members of the Trump Administration, who had requested that we provide all available information concerning Mr. Adeyemi’s allegations,” it added.

Von Batten-Montague-York further alleged, without providing evidence, that Adeyemi’s arrest was intended to stop him from presenting information to U.S. authorities.

“Tomorrow, we will report that Mr. Adeyemi has been arrested. We will also report our concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest, including information we have received suggesting that his prompt arrest was pushed by President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to prevent Mr. Adeyemi from presenting evidence to the U.S. government.

“We will keep the public updated on developments,” the statement said.

Earlier, the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, said he had already briefed members of President Trump’s team on Adeyemi’s allegations and planned to engage members of the U.S. Congress.

In a post on Monday, Von Batten wrote: “I just spoke with Mr. Adeyemi. I found him to be sincere and credible. Based on our discussion, I believe his allegations warrant an investigation by Congress, the State Department, the U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Government Accountability Office and other relevant U.S. agencies due to the alleged misappropriation of U.S.-funded World Bank loans by senior members of the Nigerian government.

“This past weekend, I briefed senior members of President @realDonaldTrump’s team on these allegations, and our team will begin briefing Members of Congress this week.”

The lobbying firm was engaged by Atiku under a 12-month contract reportedly worth $1.2 million to provide lobbying, strategic communications and reputational advisory services in the United States.

Adeyemi was arrested on Tuesday in Osun State by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over allegations of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

Police accused him of forging official government documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter allegedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an agency the Presidency has said does not exist.

Before his arrest, Adeyemi alleged that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure the appointment and claimed he feared for his life.

He also accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the agency’s budget, an allegation the Presidency has not publicly responded to.

The case has been adjourned until September 30, 2026, for Adeyemi’s arraignment.

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