A United States law firm working for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Von Batten Montague-York, has said it has been authorised to file a $36m federal lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode.
The firm disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the suit would be filed at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
According to the statement, the proposed lawsuit stems from alleged threats of kidnapping and physical harm against the firm’s principal, Dr Von Batten.
“We have been cleared and authorised to proceed with a $36 million federal lawsuit against Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia,” the firm said.
The firm alleged that Fani-Kayode made threats against Von Batten as part of what it described as an organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.
It said the case against Tinubu would test the application of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and head-of-state immunity while he remains Nigeria’s President.
The firm said the proposed complaint would rely on provisions of US law, including the FSIA, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act and relevant District of Columbia tort law.
It also said it would engage US, UK and EU immigration authorities after filing the suit over what it described as alleged extrajudicial threats.
The firm said it would ask the authorities to consider whether Fani-Kayode’s travel or visa status warranted review, while acknowledging that any such decision would rest with the relevant authorities.
The law firm said it expected to file the lawsuit next week.
No court filing or judicial determination on the allegations was included in the statement, and the claims against Tinubu and Fani-Kayode remain allegations at this stage.
