US lobbying firm offers to help ‘fake’ PFIPC DG seek asylum in America

A United States lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has expressed readiness to assist the embattled Director-General of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, in seeking asylum in the United States.

The firm also urged US authorities to investigate allegations Adeyemi has levelled against top Nigerian government officials.

The position was made known through a series of posts shared over the weekend and on Monday by Dr. Von Batten, who disclosed that his team had established contact with Adeyemi and was preparing to brief members of the US Congress and other American agencies on the claims.

In a post published on Saturday via X, Von Batten said the firm was willing to support Adeyemi’s application for asylum in the United States and help him obtain whistleblower protection.

“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,” he wrote.

He added that because the United States is the largest shareholder in the World Bank, any credible allegations involving World Bank-funded projects in Nigeria would be of interest to American authorities.

“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,” he stated.

Von Batten also warned that if any harm came to Adeyemi, his team would demand a full investigation and accountability.

In another post shared on Monday, Von Batten said he had spoken directly with Adeyemi and described him as “sincere and credible,” saying the allegations warranted investigation by several US 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,” he wrote.

He further claimed that senior members of US President Donald Trump’s team had already been briefed on the allegations over the weekend and that members of Congress would begin receiving briefings 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,” he said.

According to Von Batten, Adeyemi claimed he was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to head a Nigerian presidential agency, was allocated office space within government premises, had bank accounts opened for the agency through the Central Bank of Nigeria, and that the agency received funding through Nigeria’s national budget, including financing allegedly backed by the World Bank.

He further alleged that Adeyemi accused Gbajabiamila of demanding 45 per cent of the agency’s budget and that his refusal triggered retaliation, after which the agency was declared fraudulent.

Von Batten also said Adeyemi informed him that he and members of his family had received threats and were now in hiding over fears for their safety.

He further warned that President Tinubu would be held responsible if any harm befell Adeyemi while he was preparing to cooperate with US authorities.

The development comes as the Nigeria Police Force is preparing to arraign Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences.

In the fresh charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, the police accused Adeyemi and two others of eight counts bordering on forgery, impersonation and related offences.

According to the police, Adeyemi operated the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja before his arrest.

Tribune Online reports that Tinubu had earlier directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported agency within 30 days.