ADC, PDP, others descend on Tinubu for allegedly spending taxpayers $9m lobbying USA

By OUR REPORTER

It was gathered that documents filed with the United States Department of Justice, showed that Kaduna-based Aster Legal firm on December 17, 2025, hired DCI Group on behalf of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) as well as some Nigerians have expressed misgivings over Federal Government’s $9 million lobbying agreement with a United States firm to defend Nigeria’s efforts to protect Christian communities and sustain America’s support for counter-terrorism operations.

The PDP criticized the reported $9 million the Federal Government paid to hire lobbyists expected to ‘communicate Christian protection efforts’ to the US.

In a statement by the party’s spokesperson Ini Ememobong, on Wednesday, said the Federal Government should be more concerned on telling the world the reality of what is happening in the country.

The PDP said the deal was “deceptive and defective”, adding that “it will not work and it is most condemnable.”

The party said “the reality in Nigeria is the best perception that anyone can get. In that light, if the Federal Government desires that people, whether in the United States of America, the United Kingdom or even anywhere else in the world, should have a good perception of the country, then they should affect the reality of Nigeria.

“Another thing we should be concerned about is: Is the money budgeted for? We need to know. Where exactly in the budget is the money? This is condemnable,” he said.

Also, the ADC condemned the FG for the $9 million deal for lobbying services in the US, saying the FG was engaging in laundering its “image abroad while Nigerians grapple with worsening insecurity and economic hardship.”

The party, in a statement by its spokesperson, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the project was a misplaced priorities, coming at a time when thousands of citizens had been killed, and millions can barely afford basic necessities,.

It said “no amount of paid lobbying can mask the government’s failure to protect lives and property,” just as the party accused the FG of spending “scarce public resources to launder its battered image abroad instead of addressing the deepening security and economic crises at home, as reported in recent disclosures on the federal government’s $9 million lobbying contract in the United States.”

Nigerians also took to social media to criticize the deal.

According to Sirlees Omar, “I have never seen where a country is sold simultaneously to different buyers, until I remembered Nigeria.”

Anikigbo Donatus questioned the move, asking “which kind of lobbying, America and Americans are here in Nigeria and even know in and out of Nigeria more than many Nigerians.”

Olaoye Olugbenga Oludare said the country is “still treating the symptoms,”, just as he to the government to “do the right things and things will fall in place.”

For Okpueze Emerueh, “The truth must prevail! No matter what they do.”

Iorwuese Iorliam said, “Why hire people to go lobby for you if the issue is not true? $9 million is enough to clear the entire middle belt of bandits.”

It was gathered that documents filed with the United States Department of Justice, showed that Kaduna-based Aster Legal firm on December 17, 2025, hired DCI Group on behalf of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, Managing Partner of Aster Legal, and Justin Peterson, Managing member of DCI Group signed the deal to “assist the Nigerian government through Aster Legal in communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities and maintaining US support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilising elements.”

It was learnt that the contract is for six months, running until June 30, 2026, and to be automatically renewed for another six months unless terminated.

Part of the deal permits either party to end the agreement “for any reason without penalty” by giving 60 days’ written notice.

The document revealed that Nigeria paid $4.5 million to DCI Group on December 12 as an upfront six-month retainer.

The contract’s fee and expenses clause states that, “Client shall pay Consultant a monthly retainer of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000; being full payment of professional fees and expenses covered under this agreement). The monthly payment shall be made in two (2) six-month installments of four million five hundred thousand dollars ($4,500,000), one due (a) upon execution of this Agreement and the other (b) upon expiration of six months from the effective date.”

Characteristically of the government, there has been no official statement either admitting or dismissing the alleged payment.