The Tinubu government has been accused of threatening the safety of Dr. Von Batten, with the US firm Von Batten Montague York saying it plans to notify the Donald Trump administration, Congress and federal law enforcement.
Von Batten Montague York said in a statement posted on X that the Nigerian Presidency, through one of its senior representatives, allegedly issued a direct and verified threat involving extrajudicial detention and physical harm against Dr. Von Batten.
The firm said it had taken screenshots of the communications containing the alleged threats and would preserve the material as evidence.
The company said the alleged threat included plans to kidnap and harm Dr. Von Batten. Because of the seriousness of the allegation, it said it would not disclose further details until members of the Trump administration, Congress and federal law enforcement had been informed.
The firm also directly addressed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, saying it was not afraid of the alleged threats or individuals it described as kidnappers or assassins.
Von Batten Montague York said it believed Dr. Von Batten was protected by the United States and warned that the Nigerian government had crossed what it described as a line of no return.
The statement also referred to Trump and said that standing up to what the firm described as evil could lead to threats against a person’s life.
The company ended its statement by saying that further updates would follow.
The allegations have not been independently verified. The screenshots referenced by the firm were not included in the material provided, and the identity of the Nigerian official allegedly involved was not disclosed. A response from the Nigerian Presidency was also not included in the statement.
