TD A Washington-based lobbying and political advisory firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has accused the Nigerian Presidency of issuing what it described as a “direct, verified threat” of extrajudicial detention and physical harm against its managing partner, Dr Karl Von Batten.
The allegation was made in a statement published by the firm on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
The firm said the alleged threat was communicated by a senior representative of the Nigerian Presidency and that it had preserved screenshots of the communication.
However, the allegation has not been independently verified, and there was no immediate public response from the Nigerian Presidency specifically addressing the accusation as of publication.
Firm alleges threat of detention and physical harm
According to Von Batten-Montague-York, the alleged communication contained a threat to detain and physically harm Von Batten outside normal legal processes.
The firm said it would withhold further details until it had notified members of the administration of US President Donald Trump, members of Congress and US federal law-enforcement authorities.
The firm also described the alleged communication as a threat to kidnap and harm its founder.
Addressing President Bola Tinubu directly, the firm said it was not intimidated by the alleged threat and warned that the matter had crossed what it described as a serious line.
The firm has promised further updates after its planned notifications to US authorities.
The accusation comes amid escalating Tinubu dispute
The latest allegation comes amid a months-long confrontation between the Washington firm and officials of the Nigerian government over historical US law-enforcement records relating to President Bola Tinubu.
Von Batten-Montague-York has publicly campaigned for the release of records held by US agencies, including the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), relating to historical allegations involving Tinubu.
The firm has also made a number of claims concerning the ongoing US Freedom of Information Act litigation over those records.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly disputed the firm’s characterization of the proceedings and has described its public statements as politically motivated.
In a September 3 statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the FOIA case was a civil records-disclosure dispute and did not constitute a criminal charge, trial or judicial finding against Tinubu.
Atiku’s $1.2 million lobbying contract
Von Batten-Montague-York’s involvement in the controversy is significant because the firm was retained by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar under a $1.2 million, 12-month agreement.
US Department of Justice Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings show that the agreement was signed in March 2026 and registered with the FARA unit in April.
According to reporting based on the filing, the contract covers strategic advisory services, engagement with congressional and executive-branch officials and efforts to strengthen Atiku’s standing among US policymakers.
One of the stated objectives was to counterbalance lobbying narratives from the Nigerian government.
The contract itself does not establish the truth of the firm’s allegations against Nigerian officials; it establishes the firm’s contractual relationship with Atiku and the nature of the lobbying engagement.
Previous claims of pressure and alleged inducement
The latest allegation follows several public confrontations involving the firm.
Von Batten-Montague-York has previously claimed that individuals connected to the Nigerian political establishment attempted to pressure it to stop its campaign concerning the Tinubu records.
The firm has also publicly alleged that it received an offer of millions of dollars to discontinue its activities.
Those allegations have likewise been disputed or remain unproven publicly.
The dispute has increasingly involved competing claims from the firm and Nigerian government representatives over the significance of US court filings concerning the historical records.
Fani-Kayode challenges firm over Tinubu allegations
The development also comes as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, challenged Von Batten-Montague-York to produce evidence supporting its allegations concerning Tinubu.
Fani-Kayode argued that a 1993 US Department of Justice civil forfeiture complaint concerning property should not be presented as proof that Tinubu personally trafficked heroin.
He stressed that an investigation or civil forfeiture proceeding is not equivalent to a criminal conviction or finding of personal criminal conduct.
What is established — and what remains an allegation
At this stage, several elements of the story can be distinguished:
- Established: Atiku Abubakar retained Von Batten-Montague-York under a reported $1.2 million, 12-month FARA-registered agreement.
- Established: The firm has publicly pursued the release of historical US records relating to Tinubu.
- Established: The Nigerian government has disputed the firm’s characterization of the US legal proceedings.
- Alleged: A senior representative of the Nigerian Presidency threatened Von Batten with extrajudicial detention and physical harm.
- Alleged: The communication amounted to a threat to kidnap and harm Von Batten.
- Not independently established: That the Nigerian Presidency authorised or intended any kidnapping, physical attack or extrajudicial detention of Von Batten.
The firm says it has screenshots of the alleged communication and intends to present the matter to US officials and law-enforcement agencies.
This Dawn News will update this report if the Nigerian Presidency responds to the allegation or if the firm releases the screenshots or additional evidence.
