Von Batten Firm Announces Planned $36m US Lawsuit Against Tinubu and Fani-Kayode

A Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has announced plans to file a $36 million federal lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, over alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm its principal, Dr Karl Von Batten.

The firm, which is retained by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said in a statement on Wednesday that it had been “cleared and authorized” to proceed with the case at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

The firm alleged that the threats were made by Fani-Kayode as part of what it described as an “organized criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency”.

It said the proposed complaint would rely on District of Columbia tort law, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The firm also said it would engage immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union after filing, to seek a review of Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status.

“After filing next week, we will engage with U.S., U.K., and E.U. immigration authorities regarding the alleged extrajudicial threats and whether Ambassador Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status warrants review,” the firm stated.

Fani-Kayode responded on Thursday by dismissing the planned lawsuit and challenging Von Batten to produce evidence of the alleged threats.

“I again challenge you to provide the evidence of these threats from me, the President and the Federal Government & MAKE THEM PUBLIC,” he said.

He accused Von Batten of being contracted by Atiku Abubakar to distract the President and the government.

“I have no words for a shameless clown & ex-convict like who has been contracted by Atiku Abubakar to distract our President, our Government & me from the crucial work that we are doing,” Fani-Kayode said.

Fani-Kayode also announced plans to file a $100 million counter-suit against Von Batten in the United States for libel and defamation, and said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition to Nigeria over alleged violations of the country’s cybercrime laws.

“Be rest assured that you will be hearing from my lawyers soon and I will be demanding at least 100 million USD for your libellous falsehood & vicious slander against my person,” he said.

As of Thursday, the proposed $36 million action had not been confirmed as filed in the US federal court.

The allegations made by the lobbying firm against Tinubu and Fani-Kayode, as well as Fani-Kayode’s counter-allegations against Von Batten, remain disputed and have not been established by a court.