A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has expressed concern over the arrest of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), alleging that the development came just as he was preparing to engage with senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Adeyemi was arrested shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant against him for failing to appear for his scheduled arraignment on charges bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Lobbying Firm Says Arrest Came Before Planned US Meeting
In a statement shared on its official š account, Von Batten-Montague-York disclosed that it had been arranging discussions between Adeyemi and senior members of the Trump administration when news of his arrest emerged.
The organisation said it had expected Adeyemi to provide documentary evidence alongside a sworn statement relating to allegations he had previously made.
According to the firm, the documents were to be transmitted to officials within the Trump administration who had requested available information concerning the claims.
“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 Donald Trump’s administration,” the statement read.
The lobbying firm added that Adeyemi’s arrest occurred shortly after its communication with him became public knowledge.
“We are told that his arrest occurred shortly after it became public that we were in contact with him and just before he was expected to provide us with evidentiary materials and a sworn statement regarding his account.
“Those materials were to be transmitted to senior members of the Trump administration, who had requested that we provide all available information concerning Mr. Adeyemi’s allegations.”
Firm To Brief US Officials On Arrest
Von Batten-Montague-York stated that it would formally notify relevant officials in Washington about Adeyemi’s arrest while also expressing concerns over the timing and circumstances surrounding the development.
The organisation claimed information available to it suggested that the arrest may have been accelerated before Adeyemi could submit the evidence he intended to provide to American authorities.
“Tomorrow, we will report that Mr. Adeyemi has been arrested. We will also report our concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest,” the firm stated.
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The lobbying group further alleged that the arrest was influenced by Nigeria’s Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, claiming the objective was to prevent Adeyemi from presenting his allegations to officials in the United States.
However, the firm did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
It added that it would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as events unfold.
Court Issued Bench Warrant Before Arrest
Adeyemi’s arrest followed a bench warrant issued by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja after the defendant failed to appear in court for his arraignment.
The self-proclaimed PFIPC Director-General is facing criminal charges relating to alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation, alongside two other defendants.
The Federal High Court ordered security agencies to arrest and produce him before the court to answer the charges filed against him.