ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A Washington, D.C.-based Republican policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu pressured the White House over the appointment of Dr Karl Von Batten to the United States Commission on Presidential Scholars.
The firm made the allegation in a post on X while reacting to comments by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN.
Keyamo had shared a report by Daily Post alleging that Von Batten deleted a post announcing his appointment to the commission by United States President Donald Trump, following comments by an aide to President Tinubu.
Responding, the lobbying firm accused the Nigerian government of mounting pressure over Von Batten’s appointment, claiming that officials of the Tinubu administration repeatedly contacted the White House concerning the matter.
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The firm further claimed that the Nigerian Presidency initially denied that Von Batten had been appointed to the commission.
According to the lobbying firm, Nigerian government officials later contacted the White House several times over the appointment, prompting the American administration to confirm that Trump had indeed appointed Von Batten.
It alleged that Von Batten subsequently deleted his announcement after the White House informed him that the Nigerian government had repeatedly contacted it over the matter.
The firm also claimed that Von Batten apologised to the White House over what it described as the inconvenience caused by the calls.
The lobbying firm linked the controversy to its activities surrounding allegations concerning President Tinubu and alleged heroin trafficking from Nigeria to the United States in the 1980s and 1990s.
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Vanguard could not independently verify the allegations contained in the firm’s post.
The firm described Keyamo as the latest senior Nigerian government official to criticise its activities, following earlier comments by the President’s spokesperson and the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“Why is the entire Nigerian government afraid of one man named Dr. Karl Von Batten?” the firm asked.
It further suggested that Vice President Kashim Shettima could be the next senior government official to comment on the controversy.
Von Batten-Montague-York said it would continue its campaign over what it described as concerns surrounding the Tinubu administration, while accusing the Nigerian government of being overly concerned about its activities.