US firm to brief Trump administration on arrest of Atiku-linked Nigerian official

A United States lobbying firm representing former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has announced its intention to brief members of Donald Trump's administration regarding the recent arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

The Washington-based firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, stated that Adeyemi's arrest by the Nigeria Police Force occurred just as the firm was preparing to facilitate discussions between him and senior members of the Trump administration. Adeyemi was expected to provide documentary evidence and a sworn statement concerning allegations he has made against top Nigerian government officials.

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We learned a short time 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 @realDonaldTrump’s Administration.

"We learned a short time 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 @realDonaldTrump’s Administration," the firm said in a statement on its X account. The firm added that Adeyemi was expected to transmit evidentiary materials to senior members of the Trump Administration, who had requested information about his allegations.

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We will also report our concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest, including information we have received suggesting that his prompt arrest was pushed by President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to prevent Mr. Adeyemi from presenting evidence to the U.S. government.

Von Batten-Montague-York further alleged, without providing specific evidence, that Adeyemi's arrest was orchestrated to prevent him from sharing information with U.S. authorities. "Tomorrow, we will report that Mr. Adeyemi has been arrested. We will also report our concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest, including information we have received suggesting that his prompt arrest was pushed by President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to prevent Mr. Adeyemi from presenting evidence to the U.S. government," the statement read.

Karl Von Batten, the firm's managing partner, had previously stated that he briefed members of Trump's team on Adeyemi's allegations and planned to engage members of the U.S. Congress. He described Adeyemi as "sincere and credible" and believed his allegations warranted investigation by various U.S. agencies due to the purported misappropriation of U.S.-funded World Bank loans by senior Nigerian government officials.

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I found him to be sincere and credible. 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.