US lobbying firm alleges $3m offer to drop probe into Tinubu

A United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has alleged that it was offered $3 million to abandon its campaign over alleged drug trafficking records involving President Bola Tinubu.

 

The firm made the allegation in a post on its verified X handle on Wednesday.

 

It claimed that the offer, along with an invitation to a confidential meeting in London, came from a “highly placed individual” whom it was informed had links to President Tinubu.

 

According to the firm, its leader, Dr Von Batten, rejected the offer, preserved copies of the communications and contacted members of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s campaign, to ascertain the nature of the individual’s relationship with the President.

 

The firm alleged that a smear campaign against Dr Von Batten began after the offer was rejected.

 

It said it would submit the alleged $3 million offer and related communications to the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for review.

 

The firm said, “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.

 

“We believe these offers were an attempt to persuade Dr Von Batten to end our campaign concerning President Tinubu’s alleged heroin-trafficking records.”

 

The firm added, “We have a simple message for President Tinubu, Nigeria’s ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, and their associates. Thank you for the offer, but no thanks.”

 

The allegations have not been independently verified, and the firm did not publicly identify the individual it claimed made the offer.