Former Minister of Aviation and Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticised United States-based lobbyist Karl Ikemefuna Von Batten over claims and campaign activities concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fani-Kayode accused Von Batten and his lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., of circulating what he described as false and misleading information about the Nigerian president.
In a statement shared on his X account on Tuesday, Fani-Kayode said his email and social media accounts had been inundated with materials concerning Tinubu that he attributed to the US-based lobbyist and his organisation.
The former minister also rejected attempts to portray Tinubu as a criminal, arguing that the President has not been convicted of any crime. He further challenged Von Batten to provide evidence for an allegation that Tinubu allegedly offered $3 million through an associate to end the lobbyist’s activities.
Fani-Kayode described the claim as baseless and maintained that ongoing legal matters concerning historical US records should be left to the courts.
The controversy is linked to renewed efforts by Von Batten-Montague-York to draw attention in the United States to records and allegations surrounding Tinubu’s past. The firm has reportedly engaged US lawmakers and officials as part of its lobbying activities.
Fani-Kayode also alleged that the lobbying firm had been engaged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under a $1.2 million annual arrangement. He questioned the purpose of the campaign, arguing that it would not determine Tinubu’s political future.
According to him, the activities of a foreign lobbying organisation would not decide who governs Nigeria, insisting that the ultimate decision rests with Nigerians.
The former minister also questioned aspects of Von Batten’s personal and academic background, including claims surrounding his name and alleged educational history.
Fani-Kayode maintained that neither the US legal proceedings nor the lobbying campaign would determine Tinubu’s political fate.
He argued that the President’s future would ultimately be determined by Nigerians and not by foreign lobbyists or political campaigns.
The dispute comes amid a wider political confrontation between the Tinubu administration and Atiku’s camp over historical US records concerning the President and the activities of the Washington-based lobbying firm. Atiku has previously defended the firm and urged the Presidency to address questions surrounding Tinubu’s reported $460,000 forfeiture in the United States rather than focus on the lobbyist.
