Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has vowed to sue US-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten for at least $100 million over alleged defamatory claims and to seek his extradition to face Nigerian cybercrime and criminal defamation charges.
The threat came in a statement Fani-Kayode posted on X on Wednesday, responding to an announcement by Von Batten’s firm that it had been cleared to file a $36 million lawsuit next week against the ambassador and President Bola Tinubu.
Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. said the case would be lodged in a US district court in Columbia over what it described as threats to kidnap and physically harm the lobbyist. The firm also said it would contact immigration authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union to review Fani-Kayode’s travel and visa status in light of the alleged threats.
Fani-Kayode rejected the accusations and challenged Von Batten to release any evidence of threats made by him, the president or the federal government. He insisted neither he nor the Nigerian government had ever contemplated kidnapping, killing or harming opposition figure Atiku Abubakar, whom he identified as Von Batten’s client.
“We have NEVER contemplated kidnapping, killing or harming your client, Atiku Abubakar,” Fani-Kayode wrote. “Such unlawful and heinous practices are an abomination to God & to this Government.”
He further accused the lobbyist of making unsubstantiated claims that linked Tinubu and the Nigerian government to criminal activity and transnational terrorism, and disputed any suggestion that the president had been indicted or convicted by a court.
Fani-Kayode said his lawyers would soon act and that he would pursue both a civil claim in a US court and Von Batten’s lawful extradition to Nigeria.
“Be rest assured that you will be hearing from my lawyers soon, and I will be demanding at least 100 million USD for your libellous falsehood & vicious slander against my person in a duly constituted court of law in the United States of America,” he stated.
“You have been put on notice. From now on it is lawyer to lawyer. See you in court.”
A story of courage, wonder, and the transformative power of self-belief; perfect for readers aged 10+ who love adventure. To place order: +234 806 130 3237 | +234 803 582 0870 OR Tap the link to grab a copy:https://www.zeekapublish.com/product/the-magical-life-of-anna
