The City Boy Movement has dissociated itself from Mr. Adepoju Babatunde Salako following reports linking him to the socio-political organisation over an alleged fraud conviction in the United States.
The group described claims associating Salako with the movement as false, misleading, and politically motivated, insisting that he has never been a member or official of the organisation at any level.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of the movement, Mohammed Abdullahi, the organisation said it became necessary to clarify its position following what it called deliberate attempts to connect Salako with the group in connection with criminal proceedings reportedly instituted against him in the United States.
According to the statement, Salako neither belonged to the movement nor 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 said.
The organisation further stressed that Salako was never authorised to function as a coordinator, spokesperson, mobilisation officer, or representative of the movement in the United States or anywhere else.
“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 associate Salako with the organisation was part of a wider effort aimed at discrediting support groups aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling political bloc.
It noted that earlier media reports surrounding the alleged fraud case and conviction did not mention the City Boy Movement, questioning what it described as the sudden emergence of narratives linking the individual to the organisation.
The movement also pointed to separate reports which allegedly identified Salako as a coordinator of another pro-Tinubu platform known as “Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria,” arguing that such conflicting claims exposed attempts at indiscriminate political attribution.
While emphasizing that it was not seeking to interfere in any legal matter involving Salako, the organisation maintained that every citizen deserved 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 stated.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to youth mobilisation, democratic participation, and national development, describing itself as a disciplined and lawful organisation operating within the ideals of President Tinubu’s political vision.
It subsequently urged members of the public and media organisations to disregard any report linking Adepoju Salako to the City Boy Movement in any capacity.
City Boy Movement denies links with alleged US-convicted Nigerian
