US Lobbying Firm to Brief Trump Administration on Arrest of Alleged Fake Council Director

A United States lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has announced plans to brief the U.S. government regarding the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

The Washington-based firm, which operates on behalf of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, disclosed that the briefing will target senior officials within the Trump administration and members of the U.S. Congress. The announcement came shortly after the Nigeria Police Force executed a bench warrant issued by a Federal High Court in Abuja to arrest Adeyemi.

According to statements released by the firm, Adeyemi’s arrest occurred just as he was preparing to provide U.S. authorities with a sworn statement and documentary evidence. The materials were reportedly intended to support allegations he raised regarding the misappropriation of U.S.-funded World Bank loans by high-ranking Nigerian government officials. The firm expressed concerns over the timing of the arrest, suggesting it may have been fast-tracked to prevent the transmission of this information to American agencies.

Prior to the arrest, the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, stated that he had found Adeyemi’s claims credible enough to warrant formal investigations by the U.S. State Department, the Treasury, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Conversely, the Nigeria Police Force maintains a completely different account of the situation. Law enforcement authorities arrested Adeyemi in Osun State following accusations of conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation. The police allege that Adeyemi forged official government documents, including a fake presidential appointment letter carrying the forged signature of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. Furthermore, the Presidency has clarified that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council does not exist.

Before he was taken into custody, Adeyemi had publicly claimed that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure his administrative position and alleged that senior officials had demanded a share of the non-existent agency’s budget.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the case until September 30, 2026, when Adeyemi is expected to be formally arraigned on the charges.