A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, LC, has said it is prepared to assist the embattled Director-General of the disowned Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, in seeking asylum and whistleblower protection.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ELLAN.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/yemi.jpg")
The offer was made by Karl Von Batten, founder of the lobbying firm, in posts on X while reacting to the widening PFIPC controversy.
Von Batten said United States authorities would be interested in the matter because World Bank funds form part of Nigeria’s national budget, while the United States remains the largest shareholder in the World Bank.
According to a report by TheNigerialawyer, Von Batten said his firm was prepared to help Adeyemi seek asylum and whistleblower protection over the allegations surrounding the purported council.
The PFIPC controversy has continued to raise questions after the Presidency disowned the council, despite reports that the body allegedly operated like a government agency, secured office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex, recruited staff and appeared in the 2026 national budget.
In a post on Monday, Von Batten said he had spoken with Adeyemi and found him to be “sincere and credible.”
He said the allegations made by Adeyemi were serious enough to warrant scrutiny by United States authorities, including Congress, the Department of State, the United States Treasury, the Government Accountability Office and other relevant agencies.
“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 wrote.
The lobbyist also said he had briefed senior members of President Donald Trump’s team on the matter and that his team would begin briefing members of Congress this week.
He further warned that if any harm came to Adeyemi or his family while he was willing to speak with United States officials, President Bola Tinubu would be held responsible and made to face justice in the United States.
The claim remains the position of the lobbyist and does not, by itself, amount to an official investigation by United States authorities.
Adeyemi had earlier alleged that the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, appointed him as Director-General of the PFIPC.
He also alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional ₦200 million to secure the appointment.
Adeyemi further claimed that Gbajabiamila requested 48 per cent of a purported ₦27.4 billion take-off grant for the council, an allegation Gbajabiamila’s lawyers have denied and threatened to challenge through a ₦10 billion defamation suit.
TNL had earlier reported that Gbajabiamila’s lawyers issued Adeyemi a cease-and-desist letter, demanding retraction, apology and deletion of the allegedly defamatory claims.
Adeyemi has also called for an investigation into the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as an intermediary in the alleged appointment process.
He alleged that attempts had been made on his life, while maintaining that his role in the council was legitimate and not fraudulent.
However, the Presidency has repeatedly insisted that the PFIPC was never created by the Federal Government and had no legal basis, presidential instrument, executive approval or lawful backing.
In a State House statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the purported council and submit a report within 30 days.
According to the Presidency, Adeyemi allegedly presented himself as Director-General of the so-called PFIPC and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee.
The Presidency said the ICPC probe would examine alleged forged appointment letters, other official documents, the use of false presidential appointment claims to seek recognition and diplomatic support, and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies.
Tinubu also directed the ICPC to investigate not only Adeyemi and his alleged collaborators, but also the wider circumstances that may have enabled a body described by the Presidency as fictitious to acquire the appearance of official legitimacy.
The President further directed ministries, departments and agencies to provide the ICPC with all relevant records and assistance required for the investigation.
TNL had earlier reported that the police filed an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against Adeyemi and two others over allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences.
The charge alleged that Adeyemi operated the disputed agency from the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, before his arrest.
TNL also reported that documents reviewed in earlier reports linked at least 12 government offices and agencies to correspondence or processes connected to the disowned council before the Presidency publicly distanced itself from the body.
The agencies named in the report included the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the EFCC, NITDA, NiRA and the DSS.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation later denied that the PFIPC operated any CBN account or received public funds or salaries, saying no operational CBN account was opened for the purported council.
The controversy deepened after reports that the council appeared in the 2026 national budget with an allocation of over ₦1.3 billion, despite the Presidency’s position that it was never established by government.
Adeyemi has questioned how a body described as fake could allegedly appear in official budget documents and interact with government agencies.
In an earlier interview, Adeyemi said the ₦400 million he allegedly paid to secure his appointment was borrowed money and that those who lent him the funds had petitioned the EFCC to demand a refund.
He also denied plans to flee Nigeria, saying he remained in the country and was willing to submit documents to security agencies or any panel set up by President Tinubu.
The latest offer by Von Batten-Montague-York introduces an international dimension to the PFIPC controversy, especially because the firm had earlier been engaged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to strengthen his reputational standing in the United States.
Atiku’s engagement of the firm came amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 election and as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, faced internal leadership disputes.
The PFIPC scandal has now become both a legal and political issue, with the Presidency insisting that Adeyemi operated a fictitious agency, while Adeyemi maintains that his appointment and activities were genuine and should be independently investigated.
Adeyemi and other persons linked to the allegations have not been convicted.
“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “How to use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion.”
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
