₦airaland Forum

A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has said it is willing to assist Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the embattled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in seeking asylum in the United States.

Naija News reports that the firm also called for an investigation by American authorities into allegations made by Adeyemi against senior Nigerian government officials.

The development follows a series of posts shared over the weekend and on Monday by the firm’s representative, Dr Von Batten, on 𝕏.

In one of the posts published on Saturday, Von Batten said the organisation was interested in speaking directly with Adeyemi and was prepared to support any application for asylum and 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.

The lobbyist argued that allegations involving World Bank-financed projects could attract the attention of US authorities because of Washington’s role 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,” he stated.

He further warned that if anything happened to Adeyemi, his organisation would demand a thorough investigation into the circumstances.

In another statement issued on Monday, Von Batten said he had spoken directly with Adeyemi and believed his claims deserved further scrutiny.

He wrote, “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 also claimed that his organisation had already briefed senior members of US President Donald Trump’s team and would begin engagements with members of 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,” he added.

According to Von Batten, Adeyemi alleged that he was appointed to head the PFIPC by President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The lobbyist further claimed that Adeyemi told him the agency 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.

Von Batten also said Adeyemi accused Gbajabiamila of demanding 45 per cent of the agency’s budget and alleged that he became a target after refusing to comply.

The claims have not been independently verified, and the Presidency has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to the PFIPC controversy.

The American lobbyist also claimed that Adeyemi informed him that he and members of his family had gone into hiding over fears for their safety.

Von Batten warned that if any harm came to Adeyemi while he was preparing to cooperate with US authorities, those circumstances should be thoroughly investigated.

Bankowner:
The Nigerian government is trying to cover this up by giving Adeyemi a soft landing. They likely have paid the lobbying firm to do this.

FSBoperator:
The Police is arraigning Adeyemi today before a Federal High Court on 8 criminal charges.

Adeyemi can provide all he knows about his fake agency and those who enabled him to set it up.

SeeWahala:
No let him stay here. He's a thief along with them so if he's not going to be coming out clean as a whistle with his 'songs' he must remain here under our inept security apparatus and feel the crushing doom of his fellow thieves gloves choking him till he kpai

FSBoperator:
The Police is arraigning Adeyemi today before a Federal High Court on 8 criminal charges.

Adeyemi can provide all he knows about his fake agency and those who enabled him to set it up.

The firm's managing partner is Karl-Marx Edward Ikemefuna William George Okeke-Von Batten (commonly known as Karl Von Batten or simply Von Batten). He is a Nigerian-born lobbyist who has adopted a Germanic-sounding professional alias. His full legal name reflects his Nigerian heritage (Ikemefuna William George Okeke), while "Von Batten" serves as his professional identity in Washington lobbying circles.

According to his LegiStorm profile, Von Batten has military history with the U.S. Army, having provided operational support during Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been listed as a lobbyist for the firm continuously from 2020 through 2026.

In March-April 2026, the firm filed FARA disclosures for a 1.2 million, 12-month contract with former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (associated with the African Democratic Congress/ADC). The contract objectives include:

- Counterbalancing Nigerian government lobbying narratives in the U.S.
- Advancing understanding of Atiku's "leadership posture and policy vision"
- Facilitating meetings with U.S. government officials and Congress members
- Lobbying on democratic governance, regional stability, and U.S.-Nigeria engagement

The firm publicly announced it would brief U.S. Congress and the Trump administration on INEC's suspension of ADC leadership recognition, framing it as affecting opposition participation ahead of Nigeria's 2027 elections.

lightwind:
What are you saying or trying to say here ?

FSBoperator:
The Police is arraigning Adeyemi today before a Federal High Court on 8 criminal charges.

Adeyemi can provide all he knows about his fake agency and those who enabled him to set it up.