FBI RECORDS: US lobbying firm questions timing of Tinubu government’s mining deal with Trump Administration
*The US will not be bought with promises of mining or oil deals, Firm warns Nigerian government
By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTER
The lobbying firm also claimed it had received reports that individuals associated with the Nigerian Presidency had privately boasted that they had “settled (paid-off) the Americans,” and that records concerning allegations of heroin trafficking involving Tinubu would not be released.
A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has raised concerns over the timing of a proposed Nigeria-US mining cooperation agreement amid the controversy surrounding Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) records relating to allegations involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The firm questioned whether proposed economic agreements between the Nigerian government and the administration of US President Donald Trump could create an appearance of a connection between economic interests, access to the US president and the release or disposition of US law-enforcement records.
Its concerns followed a report it claimed was published by PUNCH online, titled, “FG, US plan mining cooperation deal on sidelines of UNGA,” which the firm said was subsequently deleted.
According to Von Batten-Montague-York, the Nigerian Presidency’s report on the proposed signing of a US-Nigeria mining deal at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had been removed.
“The @realDonaldTrump Administration is currently reviewing the proposed signing of the agreement at the UN, which we believe could bring into question the integrity of the United States and President Trump,” the firm said.
The lobbying firm also claimed it had received reports that individuals associated with the Nigerian Presidency had privately boasted that they had “settled (paid-off) the Americans,” and that records concerning allegations of heroin trafficking involving Tinubu would not be released.
However, the firm stressed that it had not independently verified the claim that anyone had “settled the Americans” and was not presenting it as established fact.
It further claimed that President Tinubu was expected to meet with President Trump during the UN General Assembly.
Von Batten-Montague-York said it was not opposed to a minerals agreement between Nigeria and the United States, provided such an agreement advanced American interests.
“Our concern is the timing and appearance of any signing at UNGA while these claims are circulating and the FBI and @DEAHQ records remain the subject of federal litigation,” it said.
It added that, “A legitimate economic agreement should not be allowed to create the appearance that economic concessions are connected to access to President #Trump or the disposition of U.S. law-enforcement records.”
Explaining its position, the firm said it had a team monitoring developments and had informed the Trump administration immediately after the report on the proposed agreement was published.
“We will never stand by and watch the Nigerian Presidency (@officialABAT) put the integrity and reputation of our beloved country and President into question,” it said.
The lobbying firm further alleged that Tinubu’s purported efforts to prevent the release of FBI and DEA records and secure a meeting or photograph with Trump had heightened concerns over the timing of the proposed economic agreements.
“In our opinion, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s desire to block the release of @FBI and @DEAHQ records and secure even a photo with President #Trump at the UN has become so great that the timing of these proposed economic agreements raises serious questions about appearances,” it said.
The firm concluded with a warning to the Nigerian government that, “The United States of America will not be bought with promises of mining or oil deals.”
