A United States-based lobbying firm linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that its founder, Dr Karl Von Batten, was offered $3 million to halt a campaign involving allegations against President Bola Tinubu.
Von Batten-Montague-York said the offer, which allegedly came from a “highly placed individual” said to be connected to Tinubu, also included an invitation to a confidential meeting in London.
The firm said Von Batten rejected the alleged offer, preserved the communications and would submit them to the US Department of Justice and the FBI for review.
However, the claims have not been independently verified.
Reacting, the Presidency dismissed the wider allegations by the firm as politically motivated speculation.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said Von Batten was a commercial lobbyist and not a representative of the US government.
Dare also cited publicly available FARA filings showing that Atiku engaged Von Batten-Montague-York under a reported $1.2 million, 12-month lobbying contract.
The controversy comes amid growing political exchanges between the Tinubu administration and Atiku’s camp ahead of the 2027 general election.
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