A top Washington lobbying firm has issued a sharp warning that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is behaving like a single-party dictatorship.
They say it uses arrests, charges, and fear to silence voices across Nigeria.
Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. posted the strong statement on X. They highlight how public figures and everyday citizens who dare to criticize the government suddenly face detention or corruption probes. The firm says it will brief the Trump administration and US Congress on this dangerous trend of weaponizing state institutions to crush dissent before the 2027 election.
One of the most controversial cases involves former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, a powerful Northern political figure and former ally of President Tinubu. After publicly criticizing the current administration and raising concerns about the direction of the country, El Rufai became the target of multiple investigations and legal actions.
El-Rufai Case: Charged but ICPC Found No Evidence of Misappropriation
El-Rufai, after he publicly slammed the government of Tinubu, authorities hit him with serious charges.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) brought nine or ten corruption counts. They accused him of abusing office and mishandling billions of naira on unfinished projects like a light rail, CCTV contracts, and other deals.
Investigations found no evidence that El-Rufai personally took public funds for himself. Yet the charges moved forward and he pleaded not guilty.
On the phone tapping matter, the Department of State Services (DSS) charged him with cybercrimes and unlawful interception. This came after El-Rufai appeared on Arise TV in February.
In the interview, he claimed he learned of plans to arrest him through a leaked conversation from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s phone. El-Rufai said words like: “We listen to their calls… we have our ways… Someone tapped his phone and told me.”
He acknowledged that tapping phones is technically illegal but noted that the government does it too without court orders. The DSS used these statements as admission that he and his associates intercepted the NSA’s communications. He pleaded not guilty to the five-count amended charge.
Courts granted him bail in both matters. In the ICPC case, a Federal High Court in Kaduna set bail at 200 million naira with two sureties. In the DSS phone case in Abuja, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted 100 million naira bail with one surety. Conditions include surrendering his passport, monthly reports to the DSS, and high-profile sureties with property in key Abuja districts.
Yet the DSS quickly rearrested him right after the bail rulings. Family members faced serious blocks in accessing him. Now fresh complaints have emerged that the ICPC denied him food and blocked his doctor from seeing him. His health has worsened badly in detention. His wife and family publicly lamented these actions as rights violations, saying officials turned away his doctor and refused dinner deliveries despite court orders for medical access.
Businessman Also Under Pressure
Prominent businessman John Olatunde Ayeni (Tunde Ayeni), former Skye Bank chairman, reportedly faced EFCC pressure over alleged fraud involving tens of billions of naira. Many link the timing to criticism of the current government.
Everyday Nigerians Living in Fear
The lobbying firm warns the crackdown hits much deeper. They receive reports of thousands of regular Nigerians with no fame or power getting arrested, beaten, intimidated, or disappearing without big headlines.
This powerful statement from Von Batten-Montague-York raises hard questions about free speech, justice, and basic rights in Nigeria today. Many fear anti-graft and security agencies now serve as tools for political payback ahead of the next vote.
While cases continue in court, the urgent message is loud: speaking against the government brings real dangers, including poor treatment in custody. Only Nigerians choose their leaders, but the world now watches this trend very closely.
Many Nigerians are now asking a difficult question
Is this still democracy or the beginning of state controlled political intimidation
