TD A Washington-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has alleged that its managing partner, Dr Karl Von Batten, was offered $3 million and invited to a confidential meeting in London in an attempt to persuade him to halt his campaign concerning historical U.S. records involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The allegation was made Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in a statement published on the firm’s verified X account.
The firm said the approach came from an unnamed “highly placed individual” whom it had been informed was connected to President Tinubu.
According to Von Batten-Montague-York, the offer was intended to persuade Von Batten to discontinue his campaign concerning what the firm describes as Tinubu’s alleged heroin-trafficking records.
“A few days ago, Dr. Von Batten received unsolicited offers of $3 million, along with an invitation to a confidential meeting in London,” the firm said.
It added that Von Batten rejected the offer and preserved copies of the communications.
He subsequently contacted members of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s political campaign to determine the nature of the alleged individual’s relationship with Tinubu.
The firm further alleged that a smear campaign against its managing partner began shortly after the offer was rejected.
“We will be providing the $3 million offer and related communications to our friends at the @TheJusticeDept and @FBI to protect our reputation and allow the appropriate authorities to review the matter,” the statement said.
The firm concluded its message with a direct response to the President, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and their associates: “Thank you for the offer, but no thanks.”
The Tinubu records controversy
The allegation comes amid renewed controversy over U.S. law-enforcement records concerning Tinubu dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s.
At the centre of the dispute is a 1993 civil forfeiture case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, United States v. Funds in Account No. 263226700 et al., Case No. 93 C 4483.
Court records show that a decree entered on October 4, 1993, ordered the forfeiture of $460,000 held in an account at First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu.
The decree stated that the funds represented proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions violating U.S. statutes.
However, the legal character of the case is important.
It was a civil asset-forfeiture proceeding, not a criminal prosecution resulting in a conviction of Tinubu.
The case was resolved through a settlement, and available records do not establish that Tinubu was criminally convicted of heroin trafficking in connection with the forfeiture case.
The distinction has become particularly important as political opponents and supporters of the President continue to interpret the historical records differently.
FBI records fuel fresh scrutiny
The latest lobbying campaign follows renewed efforts in the United States to obtain FBI and other federal records concerning the historical investigation.
Von Batten-Montague-York has publicly said it is pursuing additional U.S. government records through Freedom of Information Act litigation.
It is also bringing the material to the attention of members of Congress and the Trump administration.
The firm has also previously circulated documents relating to the 1993 forfeiture proceedings and the underlying allegations involving individuals identified in the U.S. investigation.
Atiku connection
The allegation also needs to be viewed against the firm’s formal relationship with Atiku Abubakar.
U.S. Department of Justice Foreign Agents Registration Act records show that Atiku engaged Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. under a 12-month, $1.2 million agreement in March 2026.
Reports based on the FARA filing said the firm’s responsibilities include strategic advisory services, congressional and executive-branch engagement, reputational management and efforts to “counterbalance” Nigerian government lobbying narratives in Washington.
That relationship means the firm’s allegations concerning Tinubu are emerging within an increasingly overt political contest ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
The $3 million allegation, however, is an allegation by Von Batten-Montague-York and has not been independently established in the public record.
The identity of the alleged intermediary, the evidence supporting the claimed connection to Tinubu and whether any money was actually offered or transferred remain matters for investigation.
The firm says it intends to submit the communications and alleged offer to the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI, potentially placing the matter before U.S. authorities for verification.
For now, the central unanswered question is whether the alleged $3 million approach can be substantiated—and, if so, who authorised or made the purported offer.
