A United States-based lobbyist, Karl Von Batten, has filed a $57 million lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian government, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and DCI Group, a US public affairs and lobbying firm.
The suit was filed at a federal court in Washington, DC, where court records indicate that summonses have been issued to the defendants.
Von Batten, who heads a US lobbying firm, is accusing the defendants of defamation and conspiracy to kidnap and physically harm him.
The claim seeks $36 million from President Tinubu and the Nigerian government, $3 million from Fani-Kayode and another $18 million from DCI Group. Fani-Kayode has rejected the allegations.
Von Batten’s firm has previously worked for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, a political rival of Tinubu, and has been advocating in the United States for the release of FBI and DEA records relating to past allegations involving the Nigerian president.
The allegations contained in the lawsuit have not been established by the court.
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