Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to file a lawsuit seeking at least $100 million against US-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten over alleged defamatory statements.
Fani-Kayode also said he would seek Von Batten’s extradition from the United States to Nigeria over alleged violations of the country’s cybercrime laws and criminal defamation.
He made the threats in a statement posted on X on Wednesday, in response to Von Batten’s announcement that his firm had been cleared to proceed with a $36 million lawsuit against Fani-Kayode and President Bola Tinubu.
Von Batten, through his firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., said the suit would be filed next week at a US district court in Columbia over alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm him.
“After filing next week, we will engage with U.S., U.K., and E.U. immigration authorities regarding the alleged extrajudicial threats and whether Ambassador Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status warrants review,” the firm had stated.
Responding, Fani-Kayode denied the allegations and challenged Von Batten to make public any evidence of threats against him, Tinubu or the federal government.
“I again challenge you to provide the evidence of these threats from me, the President and the Federal Government & MAKE THEM PUBLIC,” he said.
Fani-Kayode also rejected allegations that the Nigerian government targets, kidnaps, harms or kills opposition figures, describing such claims as unfounded.
He said neither he nor the government had contemplated kidnapping, killing or harming Atiku Abubakar.
“We have NEVER contemplated kidnapping, killing or harming your client, Atiku Abubakar,” he said.
“Such unlawful and heinous practices are an abomination to God & to this Government.”
Fani-Kayode further accused Von Batten of making allegations against Tinubu and the Nigerian government without evidence, including claims linking them to criminal activities and transnational terrorism.
He also disputed Von Batten’s allegation concerning Tinubu, saying the president had never been indicted or convicted by any court of law.
Fani-Kayode said he would respond to the allegations through the courts and warned Von Batten that his lawyers would soon take action.
“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 said.
He also said he would seek Von Batten’s “lawful extradition” to Nigeria to answer allegations of violating Nigerian cybercrime laws and criminal defamation.
“You have been put on notice. From now on it is lawyer to lawyer. See you in court,” Fani-Kayode said.
Boluwatife Enome
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