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.
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.