Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York has alleged that the arrest of PFIPC Director General Adeniyi Adeyemi occurred just as arrangements were being finalised for him to provide documentary evidence and a sworn statement to senior members of the Trump administration — and has claimed the timing was pushed by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to prevent that from happening.
The ink was barely dry on the briefing plans when Nigerian police moved in. Now a Washington lobbying firm is crying foul.
Von Batten-Montague-York, the US-based lobbying firm previously retained by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the arrest of controversial PFIPC Director General Adeniyi Adeyemi on Tuesday was timed to prevent him from transmitting evidence and a sworn statement to senior officials in the Trump administration, according to a statement published on its X handle.
“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 Trump’s Administration,” the firm stated.
According to Tribune, the lobbying firm said Adeyemi had been expected to provide evidentiary materials and a sworn statement regarding his allegations against top Nigerian government officials — materials that senior Trump administration officials had specifically requested.
“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,” the statement read.
The firm went further, alleging without presenting evidence that the arrest was orchestrated specifically by Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila. “Information we have received suggests 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,” the statement said.
Managing partner Karl Von Batten had earlier posted on X that he found Adeyemi “sincere and credible” after speaking with him, and said he had already briefed senior Trump team members on Adeyemi’s allegations — including claims of misappropriation of US-funded World Bank loans by senior Nigerian government officials.
Adeyemi was arrested Tuesday in Osun State by the Police Intelligence Response Team following a bench warrant issued by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, as reported by Tribune Online.
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