A United States based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten Montague York, has alleged that it was offered $3 million to discontinue its campaign over historical US records concerning allegations of heroin trafficking involving President Bola Tinubu.
The firm made the allegation in a statement, claiming the offer was made to its leader, Dr Karl Von Batten, by an unnamed “highly placed individual” whom it was informed was connected to Tinubu.
According to the firm, the alleged offer was accompanied by an invitation to a confidential 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,” the firm said.
“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 said Dr Von Batten rejected the alleged offer and immediately preserved copies of the communications relating to the approach.
It added that he subsequently contacted members of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s campaign to establish the nature of the alleged intermediary’s relationship with Tinubu.
“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,” the firm said.
The firm further alleged that a smear campaign against Dr Von Batten began shortly after the offer was rejected.
It said it intends to submit the alleged $3 million offer and related communications to the United States 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 the Department of Justice and FBI to protect our reputation and allow the appropriate authorities to review the matter,” it said.
The firm concluded its statement by directly addressing Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and their associates.
“We have a simple message for President Bola Tinubu, the APC, and their associates: Thank you for the offer, but no thanks.”
The allegation comes amid legal proceedings in the United States concerning the release of records relating to allegations involving Tinubu’s activities in the US in the early 1990s.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has sought to keep some of the records confidential, while Tinubu’s legal team has joined a request for additional time to respond to proceedings concerning the release of the documents.
Von Batten Montague York has also been involved in efforts to obtain the historical US records concerning Tinubu.
