FFK Fires Back at Atiku’s Lobbyist, Threatens $100m Lawsuit

Former Aviation Minister and Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has fired back at United States-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten following reports that his firm plans to institute a $36 million lawsuit against Fani-Kayode and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged threats of kidnapping and physical harm.

Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., the Washington-based lobbying firm engaged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said it had been cleared to proceed with the lawsuit, which it said would be filed next week in a United States district court. The firm also said it intends to approach immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union concerning the allegations and whether Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status should be reviewed.

But in a blistering response, Fani-Kayode dismissed the threatened legal action, describing it as an attempt to distract President Tinubu, his administration and supporters ahead of the political battles leading to the 2027 presidential election.

“I am laughing in Hebrew,” Fani-Kayode declared as he questioned who had purportedly “cleared and authorised” Von Batten to proceed with the case.

The confrontation represents the latest escalation in an increasingly bitter public dispute between Fani-Kayode and Von Batten, whose firm has a documented lobbying relationship with Atiku. United States Foreign Agents Registration Act filings previously reported by PREMIUM TIMES show that Atiku entered a $1.2 million, 12-month agreement with Von Batten-Montague-York in March 2026, with the arrangement formally registered with the US Department of Justice in April. The disclosed services include strategic advice, engagement with American policymakers and reputational management.

Fani-Kayode rejected Von Batten’s allegations that he, President Tinubu or the Nigerian government had contemplated kidnapping, physically harming or killing the lobbyist. He challenged Von Batten to make public any evidence supporting the allegations.

“I again challenge you to provide the evidence of these threats from me, the President and the Federal Government and make them public,” he said.

The former minister maintained that Nigeria is not a “banana republic” and insisted that the Tinubu administration does not engage in kidnapping, extrajudicial violence or state-sponsored terrorism against political opponents. He argued that serious allegations against a sitting president and the Nigerian government should be supported by verifiable evidence rather than assertions.

Fani-Kayode also renewed his defence of President Tinubu against allegations concerning historical US drug-related proceedings. In an article published on September 22 titled “Why Is Karl Von Batten Hiding Under His Bed?”, he challenged claims that Tinubu had been criminally convicted of drug smuggling in the United States.

Available reporting distinguishes the 1993 US civil forfeiture proceedings involving funds linked to accounts associated with Tinubu from a criminal conviction. The historical case involved the forfeiture of approximately $460,000, but did not result in a criminal conviction of Tinubu.

Fani-Kayode further referred to a 2003 communication attributed to Michael H. Bonner of the American Consulate in Nigeria, which stated that an FBI National Crime Information Center check on Tinubu was “negative for any criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants.” He argued that anyone claiming that Tinubu had been criminally indicted or convicted in the United States should produce the relevant indictment or judgment.

Turning the legal threat back on Von Batten, Fani-Kayode announced that he intends to pursue his own action in the United States, demanding at least $100 million over what he described as defamatory allegations against him.

“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 and vicious slander against my person in a duly constituted court of law in the United States of America,” he said.

Fani-Kayode also said he would seek Von Batten’s lawful extradition to Nigeria to answer allegations of violations of Nigerian cybercrime laws and criminal defamation, although any such extradition would necessarily be subject to the applicable legal and judicial processes in Nigeria and the United States.

The latest exchange follows weeks of accusations and counter-accusations. Von Batten’s firm has previously alleged that he received an unsolicited $3 million offer intended to persuade him to halt his activities concerning Tinubu, an allegation disputed by the Presidency. Presidential media adviser Sunday Dare had described Von Batten as a private commercial lobbyist rather than an official representative of the United States government.

Fani-Kayode, meanwhile, maintained that neither Von Batten’s threatened $36 million lawsuit nor the prospect of representations to Western immigration authorities would intimidate him.

“You have been put on notice. From now on it is lawyer to lawyer. See you in court,” Fani-Kayode declared, signalling that a political and diplomatic war of words may now be heading towards a legal confrontation in the United States.