Von Batten-Montague-York asks Festus Keyamo, ‘Why then are you rushing to respond to a small American lobbying firm?’

*Reposts Karl Von Batten’s appointment by President Trump

By KEMI KASUMU

Its words: “Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation (@fkeyamo) claims that our fight for the release of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s (@officialABAT) alleged heroin-trafficking records is a “storm in a teacup; journey to nowhere.” The world should then ask a simple question: Why then is a cabinet-level Nigerian Minister spending his time and effort rushing to respond to a small American lobbying firm?”

U.S.-based lobbying group Von Batten-Montague-York has questioned why Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has responded publicly to its campaign seeking the release of records relating to President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement, the group said Keyamo had described its campaign for the release of the records as a “storm in a teacup” and a “journey to nowhere.”

The group, however, questioned why a senior Nigerian government official would devote attention to what it characterized as the activities of a small American lobbying firm if the matter was insignificant.

Von Batten-Montague-York alleged that the Nigerian government was using state institutions to shield President Tinubu from scrutiny over allegations concerning his past.

The group claimed that U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation records allegedly link Tinubu to a criminal organization involved in heroin trafficking between Nigeria and the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.

The allegations have not been established as fact in the statement, and the claims should be distinguished from proven findings or court judgments.

The lobbying group said its next briefing to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and members of Congress would be titled: “Senior Nigerian Government Officials Rushing to Protect Their Alleged Drug-Trafficker President.”

According to the group, its role as lobbyists and advocates is to present information to the White House and Congress, raise public awareness in the United States and keep lawmakers focused on the issue.

Von Batten-Montague-York further accused the Tinubu administration of operating like a “narco state,” while urging U.S. authorities to examine why South American drug traffickers are allegedly increasingly operating in Nigeria.

It challenged Keyamo to provide answers to that question, saying the minister’s public response had instead drawn greater attention to the controversy surrounding the records.

The group maintained that it would continue its campaign for greater disclosure of the records and engagement with U.S. policymakers.

Its words: “Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation (@fkeyamo) claims that our fight for the release of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s (@officialABAT) alleged heroin-trafficking records is a “storm in a teacup; journey to nowhere.” The world should then ask a simple question: Why then is a cabinet-level Nigerian Minister spending his time and effort rushing to respond to a small American lobbying firm?

“The Nigerian Presidency is acting like a narco state, using the levers of the state to protect its alleged drug-dealing President, Bola #Tinubu, whom the @FBI alleges was part of a criminal organization that smuggled heroin from Nigeria into the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.

“Senior Nigerian Government Officials Rushing to Protect Their Alleged Drug-Trafficker President” is the title of our next briefing to the @realDonaldTrump Admin and Congress. We now see why the United States government views the Nigerian government as one of the most corrupt in the world. We are lobbyists and advocates. Our job is to build the case before the White House and Congress, increase U.S. public awareness, and keep members of Congress focused on the issue.

“President #Tinubu and his enabling ministers are too incensed to realize that they walked into a trap. We believe the Nigerian government under President #Tinubu is a narco state, and the U.S. should ask: Why are South American drug traffickers flocking to Nigeria? Maybe the Minister of Aviation can help answer that question.”

…Reposts appointment by President Trump

In the meantime, Von Batten-Montague-York has reposted the appointment of its managing partner, Dr. Karl Von Batten, by United States President Donald Trump, thus putting the Nigerian campaigners citing its deletion of same earlier on silence mode.

The US lobbying firm had earlier explained why it deleted the appointment post saying doing so did not amount to admission that the appointment information was fake as being promoted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government and presidency officials.

Reposting it on Sunday, the firm said, “We are glad to announce that on August 31, 2026, Dr. Von Batten was appointed by President Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) to serve as a Commissioner on the @WhiteHouse Commission on Presidential Scholars. We will remain grateful to the most consequential American President in our lifetime for choosing to honor Dr. Von Batten with that appointment. God bless America, and may all who oppose her fail.”