City Boy Movement Denies Ties to Nigerian Allegedly Convicted in the U.S.

The City Boy Movement has formally distanced itself from Mr. Adepoju Babatunde Salako after reports surfaced that linked him to the organization amid an alleged fraud conviction in the United States.

The movement described the claims as false, misleading, and politically motivated, stating that Salako has never been a member or held any official position within the group at any level.

In a statement released in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Abdullahi, the organization said it was necessary to clarify its stance following what it called deliberate attempts to associate Salako with the group in connection with criminal proceedings reportedly filed against him in the United States.

According to the statement, Salako has never belonged to the movement or occupied any leadership role within its structure.

“Mr. Adepoju Babatunde Salako is not a member of the City Boy Movement and has never held any office, appointment, or official position whatsoever within the structure of the Movement at the national, zonal, state, diaspora, or international level,” the statement read.

The organization also emphasized that Salako was never authorized to act as a coordinator, spokesperson, mobilization officer, or representative of the movement in the United States or elsewhere.

“The City Boy Movement completely dissociates itself from the said individual and from every publication, insinuation, or narrative attempting to create a false relationship between him and the Movement,” the statement added.

The group alleged that the attempt to link Salako to the organization was part of a broader effort to discredit support groups aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling political bloc.

It noted that earlier media reports about the alleged fraud case and conviction did not mention the City Boy Movement, questioning the sudden emergence of narratives that connect the individual to the organization.

The movement also pointed to separate reports that identified Salako as a coordinator of another pro‑Tinubu platform called “Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria,” arguing that such conflicting claims exposed attempts at indiscriminate political attribution.

While making it clear that it was not seeking to interfere in any legal matter involving Salako, the organization maintained that every citizen deserves a fair hearing and due process under the law.

However, it insisted that it would not accept efforts to falsely associate the movement with individuals who have no connection to its activities.

“The City Boy Movement cannot and will not accept false attribution, reputational manipulation, or deliberate attempts to create artificial relationships where none exist,” the statement said.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to youth mobilization, democratic participation, and national development, describing itself as a disciplined and lawful organization operating within the ideals of President Tinubu’s political vision.

It subsequently urged members of the public and media organizations to disregard any report linking Adepoju Salako to the City Boy Movement in any capacity.