Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., the United States-based lobbying firm hired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, says it has been cleared to proceed with a $36 million federal lawsuit against Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, over alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm Karl Von Batten, the firm’s owner.
In a statement on Wednesday, the firm said the suit, which also names President Bola Tinubu as a defendant, would be filed next week in a US district court in Columbia.
The lobbying firm said the suit was prompted by “threats to kidnap and physically harm Dr. Von Batten, made by Ambassador Fani-Kayode as part of an organized criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency”.
“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 statement added.
The lawsuit follows a series of X posts in which Fani-Kayode launched a broadside against Von Batten over the lobbyist’s persistent allegations against Tinubu.
In recent weeks, the firm has sought to bring Tinubu’s past dealings with US drug-enforcement agencies into the spotlight, including by filing Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests and lawsuits seeking US records relating to the president.
In July, the lobbying firm said it had begun providing the US Department of Justice (DOJ) records concerning drug-trafficking allegations against Tinubu to members of the Donald Trump administration, congress, and senior congressional staff.
Von Batten has since stepped up his criticism of Tinubu, who is seeking re-election.
Fani-Kayode challenged Von Batten to substantiate his claims, questioning his identity, professional credentials and motives.
The ambassador also denied threatening to harm Von Batten.
“For the record nobody is interested in ‘killing’ or ‘kidnapping’ you as you and your fake company have alleged on X so stop bleating like a spineless quisling and screaming like a gutted pig: it is pathetic,” Fani-Kayode said.
“I am not in the business of killing people or of kidnapping them but I am in the business of exposing liars and frauds who have dedicated their lives to smearing the President and Government that I serve and the country from which I proudly come.
Fani-Kayode said he operates within the law and intends to continue to do so, adding that he would engage Von Batten on all fronts “as long as I choose to do so”.
