Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to plans by Washington-based lobbying and advisory firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., to file a $36 million lawsuit against him and President Bola Tinubu in the United States.
The firm, which works for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, announced the planned legal action in a post on X on Wednesday.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Fani-Kayode questioned why the firm’s principal, Karl Von Batten, needed to be “cleared and authorised” before suing him and the President.
He dismissed the proposed lawsuit, saying he was not concerned about the legal action.
Fani-Kayode also accused Von Batten of making allegations against him, Tinubu and the Federal Government without evidence, including claims that they planned to kidnap, detain, physically harm or kill him.
He challenged the lobbying firm to provide and publicly release evidence supporting the allegations.
“Ikemefuna (AKA Mrs Karl Von Batten) says he has ‘been cleared and authorised’ to sue me and @OfficialABAT for 36 million USD and to impose a visa ban on us in the US, UK and EU.
“I am laughing in Hebrew. Ikemefuna, who ‘cleared and authorised’ you to embark on this adventure?” he said.
Fani-Kayode further accused Von Batten of working for Atiku to distract Tinubu and the Federal Government, while alleging that the former vice-president had paid the firm $1.2 million for an international media campaign against the President.
He also denied allegations that the Federal Government was involved in plans to target, kidnap or harm opposition figures.
“Nigeria is not a Banana Republic. Our Government does not target, kidnap, harm or kill opposition figures and are not involved in any acts of state-sponsored terrorism,” he said.
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Fani-Kayode said he had instructed his lawyers to take legal action against Von Batten, adding that he would seek at least $100 million in damages over what he described as libellous and defamatory claims.
He also said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition to Nigeria to face what he described as violations of the country’s cybercrime laws and criminal defamation.
“From now on it is lawyer to lawyer. See you in court,” Fani-Kayode said.
