Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to institute a lawsuit against Karl Von Batten, a United States-based lobbyist engaged by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, demanding at least $100 million over what he described as defamatory allegations.
Fani-Kayode also said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition to Nigeria over alleged breaches of the country’s cybercrime laws.
He made the statements in a post on X in response to an announcement by Von Batten’s firm that it had been cleared to proceed with a $36 million lawsuit against Fani-Kayode and President Bola Tinubu over alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm the lobbyist.
The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., said the case would be filed in a US district court in Columbia over the allegations.
“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 said.
Fani-Kayode denied making any threats and challenged Von Batten to publicly produce evidence linking him, Tinubu or the Nigerian government to the allegations.
“I again challenge you to provide the evidence of these threats from me, the President and the Federal Government & MAKE THEM PUBLIC,” he said.
“For the record, I do not care what you do, and I am not losing any sleep over your threats.
“You have accused President Tinubu, the Nigerian Government & me of being part of a corrupt, criminal syndicate and enterprise that are involved in transnational terrorism and that physically harm, kill & kidnap people without any evidence.
“Outside of that you have accused our President of being a convicted drug smuggler despite the fact that he has never been indicted or convicted by any court of law.
“Nigeria is not a Banana Republic. Our Government does not target, kidnap, harm or kill opposition figures and are not involved in any acts of state-sponsored terrorism.
“Outside of that who and what are you that would in any way attract our concern? You are just too small.
“You are totally inconsequential in the scheme of things.
“We have always operated within the law & respected the human rights of Nigerians.
“We have NEVER contemplated kidnapping, killing or harming your client, Atiku Abubakar.
“Such unlawful and heinous practices are an abomination to God & to this Government.
“Your delusions of grandeur must come to an end.”
Fani-Kayode said he would respond to the allegations through legal channels and pursue damages in the United States.
“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 in a duly constituted court of law in the United States of America,” he said.
He also threatened to pursue Von Batten’s extradition to Nigeria over what he described as violations of Nigerian cybercrime laws and criminal defamation.
“I will also seek for your lawful extradition from America to come and answer for your numerous violations of our Cybercrime laws & criminal defamation before a duly constituted court of law here in Nigeria.
“You have been put on notice. From now on it is lawyer to lawyer. See you in court.”
The dispute comes amid a broader confrontation between Von Batten-Montague-York and Nigerian officials and political allies of Tinubu over the US-based firm’s campaign concerning historical US records linked to allegations involving the Nigerian president. The firm has also been pursuing access to records held by US agencies.