NEWS
US Lobbying Firm Alleges $3m Offer to Halt Campaign Over Tinubu’s Alleged Heroin Records
A United States-based political advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has alleged that one of its principals, Dr. Von Batten, was offered $3 million and invited to a confidential meeting in London by an individual the firm claims is connected to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The firm made the allegation in a statement, claiming that the purported offer was an attempt to persuade Dr. Von Batten to discontinue its campaign concerning what it described as President Tinubu’s alleged heroin-trafficking records.
According to the firm, the alleged approach came only a few days ago and involved both a substantial financial offer and a proposed private meeting in London.
“A few days ago, Dr. Von Batten received unsolicited offers of $3 million, along with an invitation to a confidential meeting in London, from a highly placed individual whom we have been informed is connected to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (@officialABAT).
“We believe these offers were an attempt to persuade Dr. Von Batten to end our campaign concerning President #Tinubu’s alleged heroin-trafficking records.”
Von Batten-Montague-York further claimed that Dr. Von Batten rejected the alleged offer and immediately preserved copies of the communications.
The firm said he subsequently contacted members of the campaign of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar to establish the alleged individual’s relationship with President Tinubu.
It also claimed that a smear campaign against Dr. Von Batten began shortly after the alleged offer was rejected.
“Dr. Von Batten refused the offers, immediately preserved copies of the exchanges, and contacted members of former Nigerian Vice President @atiku’s campaign to determine the nature of the individual’s relationship with President #Tinubu. Shortly after the refusals, a smear campaign against Dr. Von Batten began.”
The firm said it intends to submit the alleged $3 million offer and related communications to US authorities, specifically the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for review.
“We will be providing the $3 million offer and related communications to the our friends at @TheJusticeDept and @FBI to protect our reputation and allow the appropriate authorities to review the matter.”
The statement concluded with a direct message to President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and individuals the firm described as their associates, insisting that it would not be persuaded to abandon its campaign.
“We have a simple message for President Bola #Tinubu, the @OfficialAPCNg, and their associates: Thank you for the offer, but no thanks.”
The allegations, if independently substantiated, could add another layer to the ongoing political controversy surrounding claims about President Tinubu’s past.
However, the claims contained in the statement remain allegations by Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., and do not by themselves establish that any payment was actually offered or that the alleged individual had a connection to President Tinubu.
No independent evidence establishing the identity of the alleged intermediary or confirming the reported $3 million offer was provided in the statement.