NEWS
US Lobbying Firm Offers Asylum Support to PFIPC DG, Seeks Probe Into Allegations Against Nigerian Officials
A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has expressed its readiness to assist the embattled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, in seeking political asylum in the United States, while also urging American authorities to investigate allegations he has levelled against senior Nigerian government officials.
The development comes amid growing attention surrounding the PFIPC controversy, following a series of posts shared over the weekend and on Monday by the firm’s representative, Dr. Von Batten, on 𝕏, where he disclosed that the organisation had already begun taking an interest in Adeyemi’s claims.
In one of the posts published on Saturday, Von Batten revealed that his organisation was eager to establish direct contact with Adeyemi and was prepared to support any effort aimed at securing asylum and whistleblower protection for him in the United States.
“To anyone in contact with Mr. Adeyemi, we are very interested in speaking with him. We are prepared to assist Mr Adeyemi in seeking asylum in the United States and requesting whistleblower protection.”
According to the American lobbyist, allegations relating to projects financed by the World Bank could attract significant interest from United States authorities, given Washington’s position as the largest shareholder in the international financial institution.
“Because @WorldBankGroup funds reportedly form part of Nigeria’s national budget, and the United States is the World Bank’s largest shareholder, any credible allegations involving those funds would be of significant interest to U.S. authorities.”
Von Batten further warned that if anything were to happen to Adeyemi, his organisation would insist on a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding such an incident.
In another statement released on Monday, the lobbyist disclosed that he had personally spoken with Adeyemi and came away convinced that the allegations he raised deserved serious attention from American institutions.
“This is Dr. Von Batten. 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, @StateDept, @USTreasury, @USGAO, 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.”
Von Batten further claimed that his organisation had already briefed senior members of US President Donald Trump’s team on the matter and would commence engagements with members of the United States Congress this week.
“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.”
Providing further details of his conversation with Adeyemi, the American lobbyist alleged that the PFIPC Director-General informed him that he was appointed to head the agency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He also claimed that Adeyemi told him the PFIPC operated from government premises, maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and received funding from the national budget, including resources allegedly linked to World Bank-supported projects.
According to Von Batten, Adeyemi further alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded 45 per cent of the agency’s budget and that he became a target after refusing to comply with the request.
The lobbyist also claimed that Adeyemi informed him that he and members of his family had gone into hiding over fears for their safety as the controversy surrounding the agency intensified.
Warning against any threat to Adeyemi’s safety, Von Batten maintained that if any harm came to him while he was preparing to cooperate with United States authorities, the circumstances should be subjected to a full and independent investigation.
However, the allegations made by Adeyemi through the American lobbyist have not been independently verified. The Presidency has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the ongoing PFIPC controversy.