Von Batten-Montague-York Alleges $3m Offer to End Campaign Over Tinubu Records
*Says Tinubu’s people started smear campaign against Batten after rejecting principal’s $3m, invitation to meeting in London
By OUR REPORTER
In a statement posted on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. claimed that the $3 million offer was intended to persuade Dr. Von Batten to discontinue its campaign concerning what it described as President Tinubu’s alleged heroin-trafficking records. According to the firm, Dr. Von Batten rejected the offer and preserved copies of the communications.
US-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York has alleged that one of its principals, Dr. Von Batten, was offered $3 million and invited to a confidential meeting in London by an individual the firm said it had been informed was connected to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recall that The DEFENDER had reported recently that President Tinubu’s proceeding to three weeks annual leave was coming 48 hours after the FBI submitted his alleged criminal investigation records with regard to heroin-trafficking and money laundering.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the vacation trip was taking him to Europe, however said he would first go to London, United Kingdom before proceeding to his undisclosed final destination in Europe.
In a statement posted on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. claimed that the $3 million offer was intended to persuade Dr. Von Batten to discontinue its campaign concerning what it described as President Tinubu’s alleged heroin-trafficking records.
According to the firm, Dr. Von Batten rejected the offer and preserved copies of the communications.
It further claimed that he subsequently contacted members of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s campaign to establish the nature of the alleged individual’s relationship with Tinubu.
The firm alleged that a smear campaign against Dr. Von Batten began shortly after the offer was rejected.
Von Batten-Montague-York said it plans to submit the alleged $3 million offer and related communications to the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for review.
The firm said the move was intended both to protect Dr. Von Batten’s reputation and to allow relevant US authorities to independently examine the matter.
Addressing Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their associates, the firm concluded: “Thank you for the offer, but no thanks.”
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the statement did not publicly identify the individual alleged to have made the offer or provide documentary evidence of the purported communications.
