A United States-based advocacy firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has filed a $57 million federal lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government of Nigeria, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and DCI Group.
The lawsuit, filed on September 28, 2026, at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges defamation and a conspiracy to kidnap and physically harm the firm’s founder, Dr Karl Von Batten. Court records list the case as Von Batten v. Tinubu et al., Case No. 1:2026cv03374.
According to the advocacy firm, it is seeking $36 million jointly from President Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria, $3 million from Fani-Kayode individually and $18 million from DCI Group.
The firm said it initially kept the lawsuit private while legal documents were being served on the foreign defendants in accordance with the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). It acknowledged that its claims against Tinubu and the Nigerian government could face legal challenges because of sovereign immunity provisions.
Von Batten-Montague-York alleged that the defendants were involved in a conspiracy aimed at defaming, kidnapping and physically harming its founder in an effort to stop his advocacy activities in Washington. The firm linked the alleged campaign to its efforts concerning Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration records relating to President Tinubu and allegations of heroin trafficking.
The allegations contained in the lawsuit are claims by the plaintiff and have not been established by a court. The case has been filed with a jury demand, while the defendants will have an opportunity to respond to the claims.
