Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to institute a $100 million lawsuit against United States-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten following allegations made against him and President Bola Tinubu.
Fani-Kayode also said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition from the United States to Nigeria over alleged violations of Nigerian cybercrime laws and criminal defamation.
The development follows an announcement by Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a lobbying firm engaged by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, that it had been cleared to proceed with a $36 million federal lawsuit against Fani-Kayode and Tinubu.
The proposed suit, which the firm said would be filed next week at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, centres on allegations that Von Batten was threatened with kidnapping and physical harm.
According to the firm, the alleged threats were made by Fani-Kayode as part of what it described as an organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.
The lobbying firm also said it would engage United States, United Kingdom and European Union immigration authorities over whether Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status should be reviewed in connection with the allegations.
Fani-Kayode rejected the allegations and challenged Von Batten to publish evidence supporting claims that he, Tinubu or the Federal Government had threatened to kidnap or harm him.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, the ambassador denied any involvement in plans to harm Von Batten or Atiku and said the Nigerian government did not engage in kidnapping, killing or state-sponsored terrorism.
Fani-Kayode also disputed other allegations attributed to Von Batten concerning Tinubu and described the claims as defamatory.
He said he would leave the matter to lawyers and pursue legal remedies through the appropriate courts.
The former aviation minister said his lawyers would demand at least $100 million in damages over what he described as libellous and false statements made against him.
He further said he intended to pursue what he called the lawful extradition of Von Batten to Nigeria so that he could answer to allegations concerning Nigerian cybercrime laws and criminal defamation.
“You have been put on notice,” Fani-Kayode said, adding that further communication would be handled between lawyers.
The dispute is the latest development in an increasingly public confrontation between Von Batten and individuals associated with the Nigerian government over allegations concerning Tinubu.
Von Batten’s lobbying firm has in recent weeks pursued US records relating to Tinubu’s past dealings with American law-enforcement agencies and has made allegations concerning the Nigerian President.
Fani-Kayode has repeatedly challenged those claims and questioned the basis for the lobbyist’s allegations.
The controversy is also connected to Atiku’s engagement of Von Batten-Montague-York under a $1.2 million, 12-month lobbying agreement signed in March and registered under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act in April 2026.
The filing showed that the firm was engaged to provide strategic advisory, congressional and executive branch engagement, and reputational management services for Atiku.
The latest legal confrontation therefore involves two proposed lawsuits with different claims and values, with Von Batten’s firm announcing a proposed $36 million action and Fani-Kayode threatening a $100 million counterclaim.
As of September 24, the proposed $36 million lawsuit had not been confirmed as filed in the US federal court, while Fani-Kayode’s threatened counter-suit and extradition request were also yet to result in a court ruling.
The allegations exchanged by the parties remain disputed, and neither side’s claims in the latest dispute have been established by a court.