Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to take legal action against United States-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten, demanding at least $100 million in damages over what he described as defamatory and libellous allegations against him.
The development follows an announcement by Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., the lobbying and advisory firm associated with Von Batten, that it intends to file a $36 million federal lawsuit against Fani-Kayode and President Bola Tinubu in the United States.
The proposed suit is expected to be filed before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The firm says the action concerns allegations that Von Batten was threatened with kidnapping and physical harm. The allegations have not been established by a court, and Fani-Kayode has denied threatening the lobbyist.
Von Batten Announces $36m Legal Action
Von Batten-Montague-York announced that it had been authorised to proceed with the proposed $36 million case.
According to the firm, the lawsuit arises from alleged threats against its principal, Karl Von Batten, which it attributes to Fani-Kayode. The firm further alleged that the threats were connected to what it described as an organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.
The firm said it intends to pursue the case under a combination of US federal and District of Columbia laws. It also indicated that the case involving President Tinubu could raise questions concerning the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and head-of-state immunity.
The proposed complaint had not been filed in court at the time of the announcement, meaning the allegations remain claims by the firm and have not been judicially determined.
The lobbying firm also said that after filing the case, it planned to engage immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union over whether Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status should be reviewed in light of the allegations. Any such decision, however, would rest with the relevant government authorities.
Fani-Kayode Denies Threats
Reacting to the announcement, Fani-Kayode rejected the allegations and challenged Von Batten to publicly produce evidence showing that he, President Tinubu or the Nigerian government had threatened to kidnap or harm him.
The ambassador maintained that he had never contemplated kidnapping, killing or physically harming Von Batten or former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Fani-Kayode also rejected allegations that the Nigerian government targets opposition figures through kidnapping, killing or other forms of state-sponsored violence.
He argued that such conduct would be unlawful and contrary to the government’s stated commitment to human rights.
Fani-Kayode Announces $100m Counterclaim
Rather than backing down, Fani-Kayode said he would instruct his lawyers to respond through the courts.
He announced plans to demand at least $100 million from Von Batten over what he characterised as false, defamatory and slanderous statements.
Fani-Kayode said the proposed action would be pursued in a properly constituted court in the United States.
He also announced that he would pursue legal proceedings in Nigeria, including seeking Von Batten’s extradition from the US over alleged violations of Nigerian cybercrime laws and criminal defamation provisions.
Fani-Kayode’s position is therefore that the dispute should now move away from social media exchanges and into formal legal proceedings.
Dispute Also Involves Tinubu
The dispute extends beyond the two men.
Von Batten’s firm has also made allegations concerning President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government. Fani-Kayode rejected those allegations and challenged the lobbyist to provide evidence for claims linking Tinubu or the government to criminal activity.
Fani-Kayode specifically disputed allegations concerning Tinubu’s alleged criminal past, insisting that the president has not been convicted or indicted by a court for drug smuggling.
Those claims and counterclaims remain disputed between the parties and should not be treated as established findings of a court.
Atiku Connection
The dispute has an additional political dimension because Von Batten-Montague-York has been engaged by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
According to recent reporting, the firm has a 12-month, $1.2 million agreement with Atiku for government affairs and strategic advisory work, including advocacy and diplomatic outreach relating to Nigeria-US relations.
The firm’s work for Atiku is separate from the proposed $36 million litigation arising from the allegations concerning Von Batten, although Fani-Kayode’s response has highlighted the connection between the lobbyist and the former vice-president.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is whether Von Batten-Montague-York will formally file the announced $36 million lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
If filed, the court would then have to consider the claims and the legal arguments advanced by the parties. The case could also raise jurisdictional and immunity questions because one of the proposed defendants is Nigeria’s sitting president.
On the Nigerian side, Fani-Kayode says his lawyers will pursue his own claims for at least $100 million and that he will seek legal action against Von Batten under Nigerian laws.
For now, both sides have made serious allegations and announced legal action, but the central allegations have not been established by a court. The dispute has consequently moved from a public political and social-media confrontation toward the possibility of parallel legal battles in the United States and Nigeria.
