Tinubu, Fani-Kayode Face Proposed $36m US Lawsuit Over Alleged Threats

Tinubu, Fani-Kayode Face Proposed $36m US Lawsuit Over Alleged Threats

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

The firm, which is working for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, said it had been cleared and authorised to proceed with the proposed case at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the firm alleged that the planned action arose from threats to kidnap and physically harm Von Batten, which it attributed to Fani-Kayode.

It further alleged that the threats formed part of what it described as an organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.

The allegations have not been established by any court, and the proposed complaint had not been confirmed as filed in the US federal court as of Wednesday.

The firm said the proposed lawsuit would rely on provisions of District of Columbia tort law, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

It said the case involving President Tinubu would also raise questions concerning foreign sovereign immunity and head-of-state immunity while he remains in office.

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The firm further announced plans to engage immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union after filing the case, asking them to consider whether Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status should be reviewed in light of the allegations.

However, any decision on immigration or visa matters would rest with the relevant government authorities.

The proposed lawsuit follows an escalating dispute between Von Batten-Montague-York and Fani-Kayode over the firm’s campaign concerning historical United States records linked to allegations involving President Tinubu.

The firm has in recent months pursued Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and litigation seeking access to US government records relating to Tinubu’s past dealings with American law-enforcement agencies.

It has also publicly criticised the Nigerian President and said it had shared documents concerning the matter with officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump, members of Congress and congressional staff.

Fani-Kayode has responded forcefully to the lobbyist’s campaign and has denied threatening to kidnap or harm Von Batten.

The former Aviation Minister said nobody was interested in killing or kidnapping Von Batten and accused him of making false claims against President Tinubu and the Nigerian government.

Fani-Kayode also said he intended to challenge Von Batten’s claims through lawful means.

The dispute has attracted additional attention because of the political relationship between Von Batten’s firm and Atiku Abubakar, who is seeking to challenge Tinubu politically.

Von Batten-Montague-York has presented the proposed litigation as a response to alleged threats against its principal, while Fani-Kayode has rejected the allegations.

The $36 million lawsuit remains at the proposed-litigation stage. The firm’s announcement that it had been authorised to proceed does not by itself establish that a federal complaint has been filed or that the allegations have been proven.

If the complaint is filed, the US court would have to consider the claims and any jurisdictional or immunity issues raised by the defendants. The filing itself would not establish the truth of the allegations.

For now, the central claims remain disputed, with Von Batten-Montague-York alleging threats of kidnapping and physical harm, while Fani-Kayode denies making such threats. There has been no court finding establishing the alleged conspiracy or threats.

Tinubu, Fani-Kayode Face Proposed $36m US Lawsuit Over Alleged Threats