Von Batten Montague York, L.C. says it has filed a $57 million lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ambassador Femi Fani Kayode and DCI Group.
The law firm announced on October 5 that the lawsuit was filed on September 28. It alleges defamation and an alleged conspiracy to kidnap and physically harm Dr. Von Batten.
According to the firm, the lawsuit seeks $36 million jointly from President Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria, $3 million from Fani Kayode personally and $18 million from DCI Group.
The firm said it kept the lawsuit private while legal service was being carried out on the foreign parties under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
Von Batten Montague York acknowledged that its claims against President Tinubu and the Nigerian government could face legal hurdles because of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The law generally places limits on when foreign governments and their officials can be sued in US courts.
The firm nevertheless said it intends to pursue the case, arguing that an alleged conspiracy was carried out to defame Dr. Von Batten, kidnap him and physically harm him in an effort to silence his advocacy before the White House and Congress.
The firm linked those alleged actions to Dr. Von Batten’s advocacy concerning FBI and DEA records relating to President Tinubu and allegations of heroin trafficking.
The allegations in the lawsuit have not been established as facts by a court. The filing represents the claims and position of the plaintiff and its lawyers, while the defendants have the opportunity to respond through the legal process.
