A United States-based lobbying and political advisory firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., says it has been cleared to proceed with a $36 million federal lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu and Nigerian diplomat Femi Fani-Kayode over alleged threats against its principal, Dr Karl Von Batten.
The firm announced the development in a post on its verified X account on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, saying it plans to file the case in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia next week.
According to the firm, the proposed lawsuit relates to alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm Von Batten, which it attributes to Fani-Kayode and describes as part of an alleged organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.
The allegations have not been independently established.
Firm cites US federal laws
Von Batten-Montague-York said the proposed action would rely on District of Columbia tort law as well as provisions of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The firm specifically cited 28 U.S.C. § 1605B and 18 U.S.C. §§ 2331 and 2333, arguing that the case could raise questions concerning the scope of sovereign immunity and head-of-state immunity while Tinubu remains in office.
The firm also said it intends to seek $36 million in damages.
However, as of Wednesday, there was no publicly available federal court filing independently confirming the lawsuit, its claims or the $36 million damages demand. The details currently come from the firm’s own announcement.
Fani-Kayode denies threatening Von Batten
The proposed lawsuit follows an earlier public dispute between Fani-Kayode and Von Batten-Montague-York over the firm’s campaign concerning historical United States government records relating to President Tinubu.
The firm previously alleged that a representative of the Nigerian Presidency had threatened Von Batten with kidnapping and physical harm and said it had begun briefing US authorities, including the Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Fani-Kayode denied having any intention to kidnap or harm Von Batten. He said he was not interested in killing or kidnapping him and maintained that he would continue challenging what he described as false claims concerning Tinubu.
Firm plans to contact immigration authorities
In its latest statement, Von Batten-Montague-York said that after filing the lawsuit, it plans to engage US, UK and European Union immigration authorities regarding the alleged threats.
The firm said it would ask whether Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status warrants review under applicable immigration laws.
It stressed, however, that any decision on immigration status would be made by the relevant government authorities.
Dispute over Tinubu-related US records
The latest development is part of a wider dispute between Von Batten-Montague-York and Nigerian officials and political figures over historical US records concerning Tinubu.
The firm has been campaigning for the release of records connected to a 1993 US civil forfeiture case involving funds associated with Tinubu. Fani-Kayode has challenged the firm’s interpretation of those records and has argued that a civil forfeiture proceeding should not be presented as proof that Tinubu personally committed drug-trafficking offences.
For now, the proposed $36 million action remains at the pre-filing stage. Confirmation of the case, its defendants, causes of action and damages claim will depend on the complaint being filed and subsequently reflected in official court records.