Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to file a $100 million lawsuit against Karl Von Batten, a United States-based lobbyist hired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, over what he described as defamatory allegations.
Gatekeepers News reports that Fani-Kayode also said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition from the United States to Nigeria over alleged violations of Nigerian cybercrime laws and criminal defamation. He made the statements in a post on X on Wednesday.
His response followed an announcement by Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., that the firm had been cleared to proceed with a $36 million lawsuit against Fani-Kayode and President Bola Tinubu. The proposed suit is expected to be filed next week before the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The lobbying firm alleges that Von Batten had been threatened with kidnapping and physical harm by Fani-Kayode as part of what it described as an organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency. It also said it would contact US, UK and EU immigration authorities to seek a review of Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status over the allegations.
Fani-Kayode denied making any threats against Von Batten and challenged the lobbyist to publish evidence linking him, Tinubu or the Federal Government to any alleged plan to harm or abduct him.
The ambassador also rejected allegations that Tinubu, the Nigerian government and himself were involved in criminal activities, including kidnapping, physical attacks or state-sponsored terrorism.
Fani-Kayode said his lawyers would pursue the matter in court and demanded at least $100 million in damages over what he called libellous and defamatory statements made against him.
He further said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition to Nigeria to face proceedings over alleged violations of the country’s cybercrime laws and criminal defamation statutes.
The dispute is part of a wider confrontation between Von Batten and Nigerian government figures over allegations concerning Tinubu. In recent months, the lobbyist’s firm has pursued US government records relating to the president’s past dealings with US drug-enforcement authorities through Freedom of Information Act requests and related legal proceedings.
