A Washington-based lobbying and advisory firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., says it plans to file a $36 million lawsuit in the United States against President Bola Tinubu and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode over alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm its principal, Dr Karl Von Batten.
The firm said the proposed action would be filed at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and would arise from what it described as threats allegedly made by Fani-Kayode against Von Batten. The firm said it had also reported the matter to the US Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, describing it as possible “transnational repression.”
The development is linked to an ongoing dispute between the firm and Nigerian officials and political figures over its campaign for the release of US government records relating to historical drug-trafficking allegations involving Tinubu.
According to the firm, the lawsuit would rely on provisions of US law, including the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act. It said the case would also raise questions about presidential immunity while Tinubu remains in office.
Fani-Kayode has denied threatening to kidnap or harm Von Batten. In a response published on Tuesday, he said there was no plot to abduct or kill the lobbyist and described the allegation as unfounded. He maintained that he intended to respond to what he considered false claims about the President through lawful means.
The proposed lawsuit comes amid a wider legal and political dispute over US records concerning Tinubu’s past. The Nigerian Presidency has previously maintained that the US proceedings involving the President concern access to government records and a historical civil forfeiture matter, rather than a criminal conviction.
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