A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., hired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has announced plans to file a $36 million federal lawsuit against Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, over alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm its owner, Karl Von Batten.
The firm said in a statement on Wednesday that it had received clearance to proceed with the action, which will also name President Bola Tinubu as a defendant.
According to the statement, the suit is expected to be filed next week at a US district court in Columbia.
The firm alleged that the threats against Von Batten were made by Fani-Kayode as part of what it described as an “organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.”
It further said that after filing the case, it would engage US, UK and European Union immigration authorities over the alleged threats and seek a review of Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status, where applicable.
The planned litigation follows a series of exchanges on X between Fani-Kayode and Von Batten, who has in recent months intensified allegations concerning Tinubu’s past dealings with US drug-enforcement authorities.
Von Batten-Montague-York has filed Freedom of Information Act requests and related lawsuits seeking US government records concerning the president.
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In July, the lobbying firm said it had also begun submitting records obtained from the US Department of Justice concerning allegations of drug trafficking involving Tinubu to members of the Donald Trump administration, Congress and senior congressional staff.
Fani-Kayode subsequently challenged Von Batten to substantiate his allegations against Tinubu while questioning the lobbyist’s identity, professional credentials and motives.
The ambassador has also denied threatening to kidnap or harm Von Batten.
In one of his posts on X, Fani-Kayode dismissed the allegation, saying there was no interest in killing or kidnapping the lobbyist.
He said he was not involved in killing or kidnapping people but was committed to exposing what he described as falsehoods and fraud against the president, the Nigerian government and the country.
Fani-Kayode maintained that he operates within the law and would continue to confront Von Batten over the allegations.
“I am not in the business of killing people or of kidnapping them,” he said, adding that he would engage Von Batten “as long as I choose to do so.”
The proposed lawsuit is the latest escalation in the public dispute between the Nigerian ambassador and the US lobbyist, whose campaign has increasingly focused on obtaining and publicising US government records relating to Tinubu.