Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has strongly rejected plans by Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. to file a $36 million lawsuit against him and President Bola Tinubu in the United States.

The US advisory firm, which has been retained by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that it intended to pursue legal action and seek international visa restrictions against Fani-Kayode and President Tinubu.

In a fiery response released on Thursday, Fani-Kayode mocked the firm's Principal, Karl Von Batten, dismissing the allegations as fabricated attempts by political opponents to distract the current administration.

"I am laughing in Hebrew... I have no words for a shameless clown and ex-convict who has been contracted by Atiku Abubakar to distract our President, our Government, and me from the crucial work that we are doing," Fani-Kayode stated.

Fani-Kayode specifically denied claims made by Von Batten alleging that Nigerian state actors and agents of the President had offered bribes or planned to kidnap, detain, or physically harm him. He challenged the lobbyist to make any supporting evidence public.

"You have accused President Tinubu, the Nigerian Government, and me of being part of a corrupt, criminal syndicate... without any evidence. Nigeria is not a Banana Republic. Our Government does not target, kidnap, harm, or kill opposition figures," the former minister added.

Fani-Kayode concluded by announcing plans to countersue Von Batten in a US court for $100 million in damages over alleged criminal defamation and slander, while also threatening to seek his extradition to Nigeria under national cybercrime laws.

"Be rest assured that you will be hearing from my lawyers soon and I will be demanding at least 100 million USD for your libelous falsehood... From now on it is lawyer to lawyer. See you in court," he wrote.

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