‘We Were Offered $3m to Stop Tinubu Campaign’ — Atiku-Linked US Lobbying Firm


 

By Abdullahi Musa 


A United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that its founder, Dr Karl Von Batten, was offered $3 million and invited to a confidential meeting in London to persuade him to stop the firm’s campaign concerning allegations against President Bola Tinubu.


The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., made the allegation in a statement published on its X account on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. 


According to the firm, the alleged offer was made “a few days ago” by a highly placed individual whom it was informed was connected to President Tinubu.


It claimed the offer was intended to persuade Von Batten to end the firm's campaign concerning what it described as allegations relating to Tinubu's alleged heroin-trafficking records.


The firm said Von Batten rejected the offer and immediately preserved copies of the communications exchanged with the alleged intermediary.


It added that its founder subsequently contacted members of Atiku’s campaign to establish the nature of the individual's alleged relationship with the President.


The lobbying firm further alleged that a smear campaign against Von Batten began after he rejected the offer.


It said the communications and details surrounding the alleged $3 million offer would be submitted to the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for review. 


Reacting to the allegations, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, dismissed Von Batten’s claims as political speculation and challenged the firm to provide documentary evidence.


Dare also rejected any suggestion that Von Batten was speaking on behalf of the US government or President Donald Trump, describing him as a commercial lobbyist.


“The self-bestowed appellation of ‘Senior Government Advisor’ is a linguistic sleight of hand,” Dare said. 


The presidential aide also drew attention to the lobbying firm's relationship with Atiku, citing filings under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).


According to Dare, the filings showed that Atiku engaged Von Batten-Montague-York on a $1.2 million, 12-month retainer.


He alleged that the arrangement was aimed at countering the Nigerian government's narratives and using historical US legal records for political purposes ahead of the 2027 general election. 


Firm Says It Will Submit Evidence


Von Batten-Montague-York maintained that it had preserved the communications relating to the alleged offer and would make them available to US authorities.


The firm concluded its statement with a message directed at Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and their associates:


“Thank you for the offer, but no thanks.” 


However, the alleged $3 million offer, the identity of the person who purportedly made it and the claimed connection to President Tinubu have not been independently verified.


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