A United States-based lobbying and government relations firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has announced its willingness to assist the embattled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, in seeking political asylum in the United States while urging American authorities to investigate allegations he has levelled against senior officials of the Nigerian government.
The development follows a series of statements published over the weekend and on Monday by the firm’s founder, Dr. Von Batten, who disclosed that his organisation had established direct contact with Adeyemi and was preparing to brief members of the United States Congress and several federal agencies on the allegations.
In a post published on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Dr. Von Batten said his organisation was ready to provide legal and strategic support to Adeyemi in pursuing asylum in the United States while also helping him obtain whistleblower protection under relevant U.S. laws.
According to him, the firm considers Adeyemi’s safety a priority in light of the claims he has made regarding the operations of the alleged government agency and the circumstances surrounding its funding.
“To anyone in contact with Mr. Adeyemi, we are very interested in speaking with him,” Von Batten wrote.
“We are prepared to assist Mr. Adeyemi in seeking asylum in the United States and requesting whistleblower protection.”
He argued that the allegations raised by Adeyemi deserve international attention, particularly because they reportedly involve projects financed through loans provided by the World Bank.
Von Batten explained that since the United States is the largest shareholder in the World Bank, any credible allegations involving the misuse of World Bank-supported funds allocated to Nigeria would naturally attract the interest of American oversight institutions.
“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.
The lobbying firm further warned that any harm inflicted on Adeyemi while the allegations remain unresolved would prompt demands for a comprehensive international investigation into the circumstances surrounding his safety.
In another statement posted on Monday, Dr. Von Batten disclosed that he had spoken personally with Adeyemi and, based on their discussion, considered him to be both sincere and credible.
He maintained that the issues raised by the embattled PFIPC chief warranted investigation by multiple American government institutions.
“This is Dr. Von Batten. I just spoke with Mr. Adeyemi. I found him to be sincere and credible,” he wrote.
“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 also claimed that his organisation had already begun engaging key figures within the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the matter.
According to him, senior members of Trump’s team were briefed over the weekend, while formal engagements with members of the U.S. Congress are expected to commence during the 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.
The U.S. lobbyist further disclosed details of what he described as Adeyemi’s account of the events leading to the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
According to Von Batten, Adeyemi claimed that he was appointed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to head the agency, after which he was allocated office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.
He further alleged that bank accounts for the agency were opened through the Central Bank of Nigeria and that the council received funding through federal budgetary allocations, including resources allegedly linked to World Bank-supported financing.
Von Batten claimed that Adeyemi further alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded 45 per cent of the agency’s approved budget.
According to the lobbyist, Adeyemi said he refused the alleged demand, after which he became the target of retaliation, while the agency was subsequently portrayed as fictitious and fraudulent.
The U.S.-based consultant also revealed that Adeyemi informed him that both he and members of his immediate family had received threats following the controversy and were presently in hiding over fears for their safety.
He warned that if any harm befell Adeyemi while he was preparing to cooperate with American authorities, President Bola Tinubu would be held accountable.
The controversy surrounding the PFIPC has continued to generate political and legal attention in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police Force has already filed criminal charges against Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to court documents, the police accused him and two other defendants of forgery, impersonation and related offences.
The fresh charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, contains eight counts bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and associated criminal offences.
Investigators alleged that Adeyemi operated the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council from offices within the Federal Secretariat Complex before his eventual arrest.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the controversial agency within 30 days.
Court documents filed by the prosecution also listed the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, among witnesses expected to testify during the criminal trial.
The controversy has further intensified public scrutiny after revelations that the PFIPC reportedly secured a budgetary allocation of ₦1.302 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite repeated claims by the Presidency that the agency never officially existed.
The development has triggered widespread calls from opposition political parties and civil society organisations for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the agency’s creation, funding and operations.
Although the Senate has declined to initiate a separate legislative inquiry pending the outcome of the ICPC investigation, opposition parties—including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Labour Party (LP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)—have insisted that the National Assembly should independently investigate how the agency obtained budgetary allocations and determine whether due process was followed.
With criminal proceedings already underway in Nigeria and fresh international attention emerging from the United States, the PFIPC controversy appears set to assume a broader dimension, as both domestic investigators and foreign stakeholders closely monitor developments surrounding the allegations and the legal proceedings involving Adeyemi.
