By David Oluwatosin
A United States-based lobbying and advisory firm working for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has announced plans to file a $36 million federal lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu and Femi Fani-Kayode in the United States.
Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. said it had been cleared and authorised to proceed with the proposed action, which it plans to file before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
The firm disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the proposed lawsuit arose from alleged threats of kidnapping and physical harm against its principal, Dr Karl Von Batten.
The firm attributed the alleged threats to Fani-Kayode and described them as part of what it called an “organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.”
However, the allegations have not been established by a court, and the proposed lawsuit had not been confirmed as filed as of Wednesday.
According to the firm, its case against Tinubu would test the application of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) and head-of-state immunity while he remains President.
It said the proposed complaint would rely on District of Columbia tort law, the FSIA, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
The firm specifically cited 28 U.S.C. §1605B and 18 U.S.C. §§2331 and 2333, arguing that the provisions provide legal avenues for certain international-terrorism-related claims and civil remedies where statutory requirements are met.
The firm said it expects to file the complaint next week.
Beyond the proposed lawsuit, Von Batten-Montague-York said it would engage immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union after filing the case.
It said it would ask whether Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status warrants review over the alleged threats.
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The firm referenced provisions of US immigration law dealing with terrorism-related grounds of inadmissibility and visa revocation, while acknowledging that any decision would rest with the appropriate government authorities.
The proposed legal action follows an escalating public dispute between Von Batten-Montague-York and Fani-Kayode over the firm’s campaign concerning historical US records relating to allegations involving President Tinubu.
Fani-Kayode has denied threatening to kidnap or harm Von Batten.
In a response published on Tuesday, he said nobody was interested in killing or kidnapping Von Batten and accused him of making false claims against Tinubu and the Nigerian government.
The dispute has included exchanges on social media, with the US firm previously saying it had raised the alleged threats with US authorities.
As of Wednesday, reports indicated that no confirmed federal court filing had been publicly established, meaning the allegations and proposed claims remain matters to be determined through any subsequent legal proceedings.
