The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to explain the circumstances surrounding the forfeiture of $460,000 in the United States, instead of attacking a Washington-based lobbying firm he engaged.
Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the presidency was avoiding the substance of the allegations by focusing on the background of Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., the lobbying firm’s managing partner.
The former Vice President said Tinubu should explain his alleged links to a United States federal narcotics and money-laundering investigation, as well as the circumstances surrounding the forfeiture of the money held in an account in his name.
Tinubu surrendered $460,000 to the US government in 1993 after a Chicago court proceeding linked the funds to proceeds from heroin trafficking.
Atiku, who engaged Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. in March, said the $1.2m contract was lawfully registered with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
According to documents filed with the US DOJ, one of the objectives of the engagement was to protect and strengthen Atiku’s “reputational standing” in the US and “counterbalance” the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives.
The lobbying firm said in July that it had begun providing members of the administration of US President Donald Trump, members of Congress and senior congressional staff with DOJ records relating to allegations concerning Tinubu.
It also said some officials in the US Government were previously unaware of the DOJ records concerning the allegations against Tinubu.
The development prompted a reaction from Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, who criticised Atiku for engaging the firm.
Dare also cautioned against claims that Von Batten had access to Trump or his administration or could influence ongoing US court proceedings.
Reacting on Wednesday, however, Atiku accused the Presidency of attempting to “attack the messenger” instead of addressing the allegations contained in the US records.
He said, “The Presidency has chosen to focus on the personal history of Von Batten, the firm’s managing partner, rather than answer the $460,000 question.”
Atiku also accused the Tinubu administration of hypocrisy over its criticism of his lobbying expenditure.
He alleged that the administration had entered into a $750,000-per-month arrangement with DCI Group, amounting to $4.5m over six months, with provisions that could raise the value of the engagement to $9m.
The ADC candidate questioned why his $1.2m engagement was being portrayed as wasteful or desperate when the government allegedly entered into a substantially larger lobbying arrangement.
“If Atiku’s $1.2 million is evidence of desperation, what exactly should Nigerians call your own arrangement capable of reaching $9 million?” he asked.
He added, “President Tinubu, before counting Atiku’s $1.2 million, account for your own $9 million arrangement. And before attacking the messenger, answer the $460,000 question.”
Atiku’s latest remarks are the latest escalation in the political dispute over his engagement of the US lobbying firm and the use of American government records concerning allegations surrounding the President.
The controversy has also shifted attention to the role of foreign lobbyists in Nigeria’s political battles ahead of the 2027 presidential election.