US Firm Sues Tinubu as U.S.-based advocacy firm Von Batten-Montague-York files a $57 million lawsuit against Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government of Nigeria, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and DCI Group.
The suit, filed on September 28, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges defamation as well as conspiracy to kidnap and physically harm the firm’s founder, Dr. Von Batten, according to a statement released by the firm on Monday.
The statement reads “Announcement: On Monday, September 28, we filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (@officialABAT), the Federal Government of Nigeria, and DCI Group for defamation and an alleged conspiracy to kidnap and physically harm Dr. Von Batten.
“The lawsuit seeks $36 million jointly against President Bola #Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria, $3 million against Ambassador Fani-Kayode individually, and $18 million against DCI Group. We kept the lawsuit quiet while service was being effected on the foreign parties in accordance with the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
“The claims against both President #Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria will face legal hurdles because of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, but this firm does not run from difficult cases, especially when we allege that a conspiracy was undertaken to defame Dr. Von Batten, kidnap him, and physically harm him in an effort to silence his @WhiteHouse and Congressional advocacy concerning @FBI and @DEAHQ records relating to President Tinubu and allegations of heroin trafficking.“
Backstory…
The dispute between US lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York and Nigerian officials escalated in September 2026 after the firm intensified its campaign for the release of US government records relating to historical drug-trafficking allegations involving President Bola Tinubu.
The matter centres on records held by US agencies, including the FBI and DEA, and has been the subject of a separate civil Freedom of Information Act dispute in the United States.
However, the Presidency has maintained that the case is a civil records-disclosure matter and not a criminal case against Tinubu.
