The legal battle over an alleged plot to defame, kidnap and physically harm Washington-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten has intensified, as American lobbying firm DCI Group rejects the accusations in a 57-million-dollar lawsuit involving President Bola Tinubu and other Nigerian defendants.
DCI Group, Craig Stevens, hired by the Nigerian government to lobby US policymakers, described the allegations as unfounded.
He said DCI’s work focused on strengthening relations between Nigeria and US policymakers.
Meanwhile, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode’s office said he had not been formally served with the court papers and maintained his denial of the allegations.
Fani-Kayode had previously threatened a 100-million-dollar counterclaim but did not confirm whether it had been filed.
The lawsuit, filed on September 28 at the US District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges defamation and a conspiracy to kidnap or physically harm Von Batten over his advocacy concerning U.S. government records relating to Tinubu.
The suit seeks 36 million dollars jointly from Tinubu and the Nigerian government, three million dollars from Fani-Kayode and 18 million dollars from DCI Group.
The allegations remain disputed and have not been established by a court.
