A Washington-based lobbying firm retained by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Von Batten-Montague-York, has announced plans to notify members of United States President Donald Trump’s administration about the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
The firm made the announcement in a statement posted on its X account on Wednesday, shortly after Adeyemi was taken into custody by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the firm, Adeyemi’s arrest came just as arrangements were being concluded for him to engage senior officials in the Trump administration regarding allegations he had made against high-ranking Nigerian government officials.
“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 @realDonaldTrump’s Administration,” the statement read.
The lobbying firm further stated that Adeyemi had been scheduled to submit documentary evidence along with a sworn statement to U.S. authorities.
“We are told that his arrest occurred shortly after it became public that we were in contact with him and just before he was expected to provide us with evidentiary materials and a sworn statement regarding his account.
“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 firm said.
Without presenting evidence, Von Batten-Montague-York alleged that the timing of Adeyemi’s arrest was intended to stop him from sharing information with U.S. officials.
“Tomorrow, we will report that Mr. Adeyemi has been arrested. We will also report our concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest, including information we have received suggesting 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.
We will keep the public updated on developments,” it added.
The latest statement followed comments made earlier in the week by the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, who disclosed that he had already briefed members of Trump’s team on Adeyemi’s allegations and planned to extend those briefings to members of the U.S. Congress.
READ ALSO: PFIPC Scandal: Atiku Condemns Arrest Of Adeyemi’s Father, Demands Immediate Release
“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.
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,” Von Batten said on Monday.
The lobbying firm is currently under a 12-month contract reportedly worth $1.2 million with Atiku Abubakar.
The agreement covers lobbying U.S. government officials as well as providing strategic communications and reputational advisory services for the former vice president.
Adeyemi was arrested on Tuesday in Osun State by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant over allegations of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Police accused him of forging official government documents, including an alleged presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Investigators also alleged that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which the Presidency has maintained does not exist.
Before his arrest, Adeyemi alleged that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure the appointment and claimed he feared for his safety.
He also accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a share of the agency’s budget, an allegation the Presidency has not publicly admitted.
The matter has been adjourned until September 30, 2026, for his arraignment.