Commences Probe on Possible Funding Received by Fake Agency from World Bank, Others
- Safiu Kehinde
A Washington-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York L.C, has stepped in on the fake agency scandal involving the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew.
The firm, in a statement issued on its official X handle announced commencement of probe on the N1.3 billion allegedly received by the agency from Nigeria’s budget as well as from the World Bank and other international agencies.
It further cited Adeniyi’s bribery allegation against Gbajabiamila who he claimed to have demanded N600 million bribe from him with N400 million already paid to the COS.
“The recently exposed fake Nigerian presidential agency received a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the Nigerian national budget, a budget that included financing from the World Bank.
“We are now reviewing whether U.S.-linked World Bank and other international funding may have been received by or benefited the alleged fake agency.
“The individual arrested in connection with the alleged fake agency has accused senior Nigerian government officials, including Femi Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, of being a key figure in the alleged scheme and of requesting a total of ₦600 million in kickbacks.” Von Batten-Montague-York L.C wrote.
The firm also hinted possible extension of its probe into the alleged plot by the Tinubu-led administration to rig the forthcoming 2027 General Election as well as conspiracy by senior members of the president’s cabinet to defraud the US.
“The Donald Trump Administration and Congress have been collecting information concerning alleged efforts by President Tinubu’s government, its associates within INEC the Nigerian judiciary, and non-governmental actors to rig the upcoming election.
“We are now officially lobbying for the investigation to be expanded to include a possible conspiracy by senior members of the Tinubu government to defraud the United States by participating in a scheme to illegally obtain or divert U.S.-linked funding.” The firm added.
NPO Reported the emergence of the fake agency scandal which began with Adeniyi’s bribery allegation against Gbajabiamila.
He accused Gbajabiamila of collecting N400m from him to secure the appointment as the DG of the agency, which operates an office at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
Adeniyi also alleged that crisis erupted between him and COS after he demanded for a substantial chunk of the take-off grant of N2.7bn from him.
In reaction, the presidency, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, declared the agency non-existent with Adeniyi labelled an impostor.
Amid calls for Gbajabiamila’s resignation, the COS’s legal team led by Kemi Pehinro (SAN) would on Tuesday threaten Adeniyi with a N10bn suit should he fail to withdraw his allegations and tender a public apology.