A Washington lobbying firm has accused the Nigerian Presidency of issuing a direct threat of extrajudicial detention and physical harm against its founder, Dr Karl Von Batten.
In a statement published on Sunday 20 September 2026, the firm Von Batten Montague York said a senior representative of the Nigerian Presidency had that morning threatened Dr Von Batten’s safety. It said the communication had been verified and that screenshots of the threats had been retained.
The firm said it would not discuss the alleged threat in detail until it had informed members of the Trump administration, the United States Congress and federal law enforcement. It described the message as a threat to kidnap and harm Dr Von Batten.
Addressing President Bola Tinubu, the firm said it was not afraid of him or of kidnappers or assassins. It said it was protected by the United States of America and that a line of no return had been crossed. The statement compared the episode to the experience of those who confront what it called evil and find their lives targeted.
The firm asked the public to stand by for further updates.
The claim comes from the firm itself and has not been independently confirmed. The Nigerian Presidency has not issued a public reply to the specific allegation in the statement. The firm has in recent months conducted a highly public campaign in Washington concerning historical American investigative records involving President Tinubu, a campaign the Nigerian government has rejected as partisan and commercially motivated.
Dr Von Batten’s firm said it would first brief American officials and investigators before offering a fuller account of the alleged communication.
By A. Ikechukwu (Legal Editor)
