A US based firm has urged the public to remain focused on drug records linked to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, warning against what it described as efforts by people around the president to divert attention from allegations concerning his past.
The warning was issued by Dr. Karl Von Batten Montague York in a statement posted on his X account on September 8.
Von Batten said the public had been given access to FBI court records concerning Tinubu and claimed that the president and his supporters could respond with a fresh round of attacks aimed at shifting attention away from the documents.
He urged the public not to be distracted by claims about his own identity and background.
According to Von Batten, some people may claim that he was born Ikemefuna Okeke. He rejected the claim as false.
He also denied claims that he took his wife’s name and dismissed suggestions that he is secretly the son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Von Batten said such claims were intended to move public attention away from what he described as serious allegations concerning Tinubu.
He specifically referred to allegations of a past connection between Tinubu and heroin trafficking and urged the public to focus on the FBI records rather than personal claims about him.
Von Batten also invited reputable news organisations to request an interview with him and directed readers to his LinkedIn page for further information about his background.
The statement comes amid continuing public debate over records associated with Tinubu and questions about what the documents show.
Von Batten maintained that the central issue should remain the contents of the FBI records and the allegations surrounding Tinubu, rather than claims about his identity, family background or personal history.
Tinubu and his representatives have faced various allegations over the years, while supporters of the president have rejected accusations they consider politically motivated or intended to damage his reputation.
The latest statement is likely to add to the public debate over the FBI records, their interpretation and the allegations surrounding Tinubu’s past.
Von Batten’s central message was that the public should examine the records and evidence for itself rather than allow disputes over personalities and identity to determine the focus of the debate.
