Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has blasted United States-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., over what he described as its campaign against President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Tuesday, Fani-Kayode accused the firm and its managing partner, Karl Ikemefuna Von Batten, of spreading what he described as false and misleading claims about the Nigerian president.
According to him, his email and direct messages on social media have been flooded with materials concerning Tinubu sent to him by people from different parts of the world.
The former Aviation Minister said much of the material originated from publications and claims associated with Von Batten and his lobbying firm.
“My email and the DM on all my social media handles have been flooded with the hogwash that you publish about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on a daily basis by people from all over the world,” Fani-Kayode said.
DAILY POST reports that Von Batten-Montague-York has in recent months repeatedly raised issues surrounding old US court proceedings involving Tinubu, saying it is engaging American lawmakers and officials over documents connected to the matter.
The firm previously disclosed that it had circulated court filings, affidavits, judicial decisions and US Department of Justice records relating to the long-running controversy.
Fani-Kayode, however, rejected the portrayal of Tinubu as a criminal, arguing that the president has not been convicted of any crime and accusing Von Batten of deliberately presenting the allegations in a manner designed to damage Tinubu’s reputation.
He also dismissed a claim by Von Batten-Montague-York that its founder was offered $3 million by an individual allegedly connected to Tinubu in an attempt to persuade him to end his campaign over the matter.
Fani-Kayode challenged Von Batten to provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
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