A fresh political controversy has erupted ahead of the 2027 general elections after a United States-based lobbying firm linked to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar alleged that its founder, Dr Karl Von Batten, was offered $3 million to discontinue a campaign involving allegations against President Bola Tinubu.
The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., made the claim in a statement shared on its X account, alleging that the offer was made “a few days ago” by an unnamed highly placed individual said to be connected to the President.
According to the firm, the alleged intermediary also invited Von Batten to a confidential meeting in London, where he was purportedly expected to discuss ending the campaign surrounding allegations concerning Tinubu’s alleged past and claims relating to alleged heroin-trafficking records.
The firm said Von Batten rejected the offer and preserved the communications exchanged with the alleged intermediary.
It further claimed that after the rejection, a smear campaign was launched against its founder. The lobbying firm said it intends to submit the alleged communications and details of the purported payment offer to the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
However, the allegation has been rejected by the Presidency.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, described Von Batten as a commercial lobbyist and dismissed the claims as political speculation rather than an official position of the US government.
Dare challenged the firm to release documentary evidence of the alleged offer, identify its unnamed sources and produce the purported intelligence report referenced in its campaign.
He also questioned Von Batten’s relationship with Atiku, citing filings under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act which, according to him, showed that Atiku engaged the lobbying firm on a $1.2 million, 12-month retainer.
The presidential aide alleged that the engagement was part of efforts to influence narratives surrounding the Nigerian government and use historical US legal records for political purposes ahead of the 2027 election.
The lobbying firm, however, maintained that it had preserved evidence relating to the alleged $3 million proposal and would make it available to US authorities.
Neither the identity of the alleged intermediary nor the purported connection to Tinubu has been independently verified. The claims and counterclaims come amid intensifying political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
