A United States-based lobbying firm engaged by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says it will 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.
Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. said in a statement on Wednesday that it had received clearance to proceed with the case, which will also name President Bola Tinubu as a defendant.
The firm said the lawsuit would be filed next week at a US district court in the District of Columbia.
According to the statement, the legal action follows what the firm described as “threats to kidnap and physically harm Dr. Von Batten” allegedly made by Fani-Kayode as part of what it called an “organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.”
The firm also said it would contact immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union after filing the case to seek a review of Fani-Kayode’s travel and visa status over the alleged threats.
The planned lawsuit comes amid an escalating dispute between Fani-Kayode and Von Batten over the lobbyist’s allegations concerning Tinubu.
In recent weeks, Von Batten-Montague-York has sought US government records relating to Tinubu’s past dealings with American drug-enforcement authorities. The firm has filed Freedom of Information Act requests and related lawsuits in pursuit of the records.
In July, the firm said it had begun submitting records concerning allegations of drug trafficking involving Tinubu to officials in the US Department of Justice, members of the Donald Trump administration, members of Congress and senior congressional staff.
The lobbying firm has continued to raise questions about Tinubu as the president seeks another term in office.
Fani-Kayode has repeatedly challenged Von Batten to provide evidence for his allegations while also questioning the lobbyist’s identity, credentials and motives.
The ambassador has denied threatening to kidnap or harm Von Batten.
In a statement posted on X, Fani-Kayode said nobody was interested in kidnapping or killing the lobbyist and dismissed the allegations as false.
He said he was “not in the business of killing people or of kidnapping them,” but accused Von Batten of spreading allegations against Tinubu and the Nigerian government.
Fani-Kayode also said he operates within the law and would continue to challenge Von Batten publicly and through lawful means.
The planned US lawsuit is the latest development in the increasingly public dispute between the ambassador and the lobbyist.
