PFIPC scandal: We’ll report Adeyemi’s arrest to Trump – US firm
U.S. Lobbying Firm to Report Arrest of Nigerian Investment Council Head
A U.S.-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, announced it will inform the U.S. government about the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of Nigeria’s Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement released on its social media account on Wednesday, the firm indicated that Adeyemi’s arrest occurred while discussions were being organized between him and senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration regarding allegations he had made against prominent Nigerian officials.
“We learned shortly 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 Trump’s Administration,” the firm stated.
The lobbyists noted that Adeyemi was expected to provide documentary evidence and a sworn statement to U.S. officials. According to their statement, his arrest happened soon after it became known that he was in contact with the firm and just before he was set to deliver the evidentiary materials.
“Those materials were to be transmitted to senior members of the Trump Administration, who had requested all available information concerning Mr. Adeyemi’s allegations,” the statement added.
Without providing evidence, Von Batten-Montague-York suggested that Adeyemi’s arrest was an effort to prevent him from sharing information with U.S. authorities.
The announcement follows an earlier post by the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, who reported that he had briefed members of Trump’s team on Adeyemi’s claims and planned further engagement with members of the U.S. Congress.
