Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, has vowed to drag Karl Von Batten before the courts, demanding no less than $100 million in damages over what he describes as defamatory claims. Von Batten is a United States-based lobbyist retained by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Fani-Kayode added that he will not stop at the money. He said he would also press for Von Batten’s extradition from the United States to Nigeria to answer for alleged violations of the country’s cybercrime laws.
The ambassador issued the threats in a statement posted on X on Wednesday, responding to a planned $36 million lawsuit announced by Von Batten’s firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. The US lobbying outfit had accused Fani-Kayode of threatening to kidnap and physically harm its principal, Dr. Karl Von Batten.
Fani-Kayode dismissed the allegations as baseless and challenged Von Batten to publicly produce any evidence connecting him, President Bola Tinubu, or the Nigerian government to the alleged threats.
He said his lawyers would seek damages of at least $100 million in a US court over what he called libellous falsehood and vicious slander.
“I will also seek for your lawful extradition from America to come and answer for your numerous violations of our Cybercrime laws & criminal defamation before a duly constituted court of law here in Nigeria,” Fani-Kayode stated.
The dispute follows reports that Von Batten was hired by Atiku Abubakar for $1.2 million to pursue legal and lobbying efforts against President Tinubu.
Podium Reporters had earlier reported that Von Batten’s LinkedIn profile lists his name as Karl-Marx Edward Ikemefuna William George Okeke-Von Batten, noting he has used variations of the name.
The allegations and counter-allegations remain disputed and have not been established by any court.