Von Batten Montague York, L.C. says it has brought records and arguments concerning allegations against Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to senior leadership at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York, as world leaders prepare to meet at the United Nations General Assembly.
The firm made the claim in a statement posted on X by its account, @batten_von. It said the engagement began on September 8 and followed a recent meeting between Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, and the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
According to the statement, the firm raised what it described as an ongoing battle involving allegations attributed to the FBI and DEA concerning Tinubu’s alleged links to a criminal organization accused of smuggling heroin from Nigeria into the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.
The firm said its purpose was to ensure that U.S. decision makers have the relevant information before consequential decisions are made.
NN News Media recalled that the lobbyist had previously vowed to disgrace Tinubu at the United Nations General Assembly, making the latest engagement with senior officials at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations a significant development ahead of the gathering of world leaders.
The United Nations General Assembly High Level Week is scheduled for September 18 to 28, 2026, with the General Debate beginning on September 22 and continuing through September 28. World leaders and senior government officials are expected to gather in New York during the high-level week.
The statement also criticized what it described as the Nigerian government’s latest strategy of seeking a meeting or photograph between Tinubu and U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations.
Von Batten Montague York said it viewed such an encounter as a challenge to the integrity of the United States and its president, particularly at a time when Democrats are questioning the legality of U.S. Department of War actions against vessels accused of involvement in South American drug trafficking.
The firm said the U.S. government handles countless domestic and global issues at the same time, making it difficult for every decision maker to be fully aware of every matter. It described its role as helping fill that gap through briefings and arguments.
The latest development comes as diplomatic engagements surrounding the United Nations General Assembly place Nigerian and American officials in the same international setting, giving the allegations renewed attention.
Von Batten Montague York said it intends to continue pressing the matter with U.S. officials as discussions involving Nigeria and the United States move forward.
