Von Batten files $26m defamation suit against Sahara Reporters in US
The lawsuit seeks $26 million in damages over what Von Batten described as false and defamatory allegations contained in publications concerning Dr. Von Batten.
Dr. Von Batten-Montague-York has filed a $26 million federal defamation lawsuit against Sahara Reporters Media Group, Inc. and Ademola Bello in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
The development was announced by Von Batten-Montague-York, who said the suit was filed personally by Dr. Von Batten on Thursday.
The case, identified as Von Batten v. Sahara Reporters Media Group, Inc., et al., is listed as Case No. 1:26-cv-03209.
According to the statement, the plaintiff is proceeding pro se at the initial stage of the litigation, with support from an independent legal team as the case progresses.
The lawsuit seeks $26 million in damages over what Von Batten described as false and defamatory allegations contained in publications concerning Dr. Von Batten.
The statement said the allegations would now be subjected to judicial scrutiny before a federal judge, stressing that the plaintiff was looking forward to the discovery process.
It further stated that the plaintiff intended to pursue legal action against additional parties if evidence obtained during the litigation establishes their involvement in what Von Batten described as a coordinated smear campaign.
According to the statement, the alleged campaign was intended to frustrate efforts to secure the public release of records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) relating to allegations of drug trafficking involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The allegations referenced in the statement remain claims in the ongoing legal dispute and have not been established by a court.
