Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to institute a $100 million counter-suit against United States-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten over alleged defamatory statements made against him in the escalating dispute involving President Bola Tinubu
Fani-Kayode also said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition to Nigeria over alleged “violations of the country’s cybercrime laws and criminal defamation”
He said the dispute had now moved from social media exchanges to a legal battle
His response came after Von Batten-Montague-York, a Washington-based lobbying firm engaged by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, announced plans to file a $36 million federal lawsuit against Fani-Kayode and President Tinubu in the United States
The firm said the proposed action arose from alleged threats by Fani-Kayode to kidnap and physically harm Von Batten
It announced plans to approach immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union over the diplomat’s visa and travel status
The first said it intend to file the proposed suit at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia next week
The allegations against Fani-Kayode and the Nigerian government have also not been established by any court
Responding in a statement, Fani-Kayode dismissed Von Batten’s proposed action
He questioned the basis for his claim that he had been “cleared and authorised” to commence the $36 million case
He challenged the lobbyist to make public whatever evidence he had of alleged threats by him, Tinubu or the Federal Government to kidnap, detain, harm or kill him
Fani-Kayode said the allegations were part of an attempt to distract the Tinubu administration and himself from government activities and the political preparations ahead of the 2027 presidential election
He also denied any intention to harm Von Batten
He said he had no interest in kidnapping or killing him and that he had consistently operated within the law
The ambassador further accused Von Batten of making allegations against Tinubu and the Nigerian government without evidence
He said this includes claims concerning alleged criminal activities and threats against his person
“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,” Fani-Kayode said
He added that he would seek Von Batten’s “lawful extradition” from the United States to Nigeria to answer alleged “violations of Nigeria’s Cybercrime laws and criminal defamation”
“You have been put on notice From now on it is lawyer to lawyer. See you in court,” he said.
The latest exchange is the newest escalation in a dispute that has centred on Von Batten’s campaign for the release and examination of historical United States records relating to Tinubu
Von Batten’s firm has in recent months sought US government records concerning allegations about Tinubu’s past dealings with American drug-enforcement authorities, including through Freedom of Information Act requests and related litigation
The firm has also said it provided materials concerning the allegations to officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump and members of Congress
Fani-Kayode has repeatedly challenged Von Batten to substantiate the allegations against the President, while disputing the interpretation being placed on the historical US records
In his latest response, he also alleged that Von Batten had been engaged by Atiku and claimed that the former vice-president had paid the lobbyist $12 million for activities directed at damaging Tinubu’s reputation.
Reports had previously linked Von Batten-Montague-York to a reported 12-month, $12 million lobbying arrangement involving Atiku.
Fani-Kayode further rejected Von Batten’s interpretation of an earlier post he made on X, which the lobbyist’s firm has cited in alleging threats against its principal
The ambassador said the post did not amount to a threat and insisted that neither he nor the Federal Government was involved in any plan to abduct or kill Von Batten