A US-based lobbying firm engaged by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., says it has received clearance to proceed with a $36 million federal lawsuit against Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, over alleged threats against the firm’s owner, Karl Von Batten.
The firm said in a statement on Wednesday that the lawsuit, which also lists President Bola Tinubu as a defendant, would be filed next week at a US district court in Columbia.
According to the lobbying firm, the legal action follows “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 planned lawsuit comes after a series of posts on X in which Fani-Kayode criticised Von Batten over the lobbyist’s repeated allegations concerning Tinubu.
In recent weeks, the firm has attempted to draw attention to Tinubu’s past dealings with US drug-enforcement agencies, including through Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests and lawsuits seeking records held by US authorities relating to the president.
In July, the lobbying firm said it had started submitting records concerning drug-trafficking allegations against Tinubu to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), members of the Donald Trump administration, Congress and senior congressional staff.
Von Batten has subsequently intensified his criticism of Tinubu, who is seeking re-election.
Fani-Kayode challenged the lobbyist to provide evidence for his allegations, while also questioning his identity, professional background and motives.
The ambassador denied making threats 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 would continue to do so, adding that he would engage Von Batten on all fronts “as long as I choose to do so”.