Former Minister of Aviation and ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has launched a fresh attack on United States-based lobbyist Karl Ikemefuna Von Batten over his campaign against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fani-Kayode accused Von Batten and his firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., of spreading what he described as false and misleading claims about the Nigerian president.
The former minister made the allegations in a statement published on his X account on Tuesday.
He said messages and materials concerning Tinubu had been sent to him by people from different parts of the world.
According to him, much of the material originated from publications and claims associated with Von Batten and his lobbying outfit.
“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.
Von Batten-Montague-York has in recent months repeatedly raised issues surrounding old US court proceedings involving Tinubu.
The firm has also said it is engaging American lawmakers and officials over documents connected to the matter.
The company previously disclosed that it had circulated court filings, affidavits, judicial decisions and US Department of Justice records relating to the long-running controversy.
It has also sought to draw congressional attention to the records.
Fani-Kayode, however, rejected the portrayal of Tinubu as a criminal.
He argued that the president has not been convicted of any crime and accused Von Batten of deliberately presenting the allegations in a manner designed to damage Tinubu’s reputation.
The former minister also dismissed a claim that Tinubu allegedly offered Von Batten $3 million through an associate in an attempt to secure his silence.
Fani-Kayode challenged the lobbyist to produce evidence for the allegation.
He maintained that the legal dispute in the United States should be allowed to follow due process rather than being driven by political campaigns, social media publications or lobbying activities.
He also backed comments attributed to Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who had reportedly described the controversy as “a storm in a teacup” that was “going nowhere”.
Fani-Kayode said he remained confident in the American judicial system and believed the courts would protect Tinubu’s legitimate privacy rights.
The controversy is linked to an ongoing dispute over access to records held by US agencies, including the FBI and DEA.
The Nigerian Presidency has maintained that the US proceedings are civil in nature and concern lawful exemptions under America’s Freedom of Information Act.
It has rejected suggestions that the case amounts to a criminal prosecution of Tinubu.
Von Batten’s involvement has also attracted political attention because his firm was contracted by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
A US Foreign Agents Registration Act filing shows that Von Batten-Montague-York entered into a lobbying arrangement connected to Atiku worth $1.2 million annually.
The agreement covers lobbying and advocacy activities in the United States, including efforts aimed at strengthening Atiku’s reputational standing and advancing his interests on matters concerning Nigeria-US relations.
Fani-Kayode alleged that the arrangement had turned Von Batten into a political instrument against Tinubu.
He questioned why Atiku would spend such an amount on a lobbying campaign which, in his view, would not alter the political situation in Nigeria.
“If this were not the case how did you manage to fool His Excellency Abubakar Atiku, the great Wazirin Adamawa, into paying you 1.2 million USD for pursuing a futile cause and treading a fruitless path that will lead to nowhere and end in NOTHING!” he said.
The former minister further turned his attention to Von Batten’s identity and background.
He questioned the lobbyist’s use of the Von Batten surname and raised questions about claims concerning his academic history.
Fani-Kayode alleged that Von Batten previously carried the Nigerian name Ikemefuna Okeke before becoming publicly known as Karl Von Batten.
Recent reports have also examined the lobbyist’s names and background.
TheCable reported that Von Batten’s LinkedIn profile lists his name as Karl-Marx Edward Ikemefuna William George Okeke-Von Batten.
The report also noted that he has used different variations of the name in professional and regulatory documents.
Fani-Kayode claimed that Von Batten acquired the Von Batten surname through his marriage to Elizabeth Von Batten.
He questioned why a person whose records allegedly contain the name Ikemefuna Okeke is now widely known as Karl Von Batten.
The former minister also questioned claims concerning Von Batten’s educational background, saying he could not find publicly available confirmation of his alleged attendance at institutions including Oxford, Columbia, Harvard, Cornell and the New York Institute of Technology.
Von Batten, meanwhile, has continued to defend his activities and has maintained a public campaign over the release of records concerning Tinubu.
In one recent development, his firm asked a US court to consider a statement issued by the Nigerian Presidency while dealing with the dispute over FBI and DEA records.
The firm sought permission to participate in the case as an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court”, arguing that statements made by the Nigerian government should be considered when determining whether Tinubu’s privacy interests justify keeping certain records protected.
The lobbying firm has also made other allegations against the Tinubu administration.
In a statement published earlier in September, it accused the administration of attempting to influence the 2027 presidential election through state institutions.
The firm mentioned institutions including the Independent National Electoral Commission, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
Fani-Kayode, who has emerged as one of Tinubu’s vocal defenders, insisted that foreign lobbying would not determine the president’s political future.
He said the decision ultimately rests with Nigerians rather than a Washington-based lobbying organisation.
“President Tinubu’s destiny and fate is not in your hands but rather in the hands of God and the Nigerian people,” he said.
He further maintained that neither the ongoing legal proceedings in the United States nor the activities of lobbyists would determine what happens to Tinubu politically.