United States-based advocacy firm Von Batten-Montague-York has made fresh claims about President Bola Tinubu’s continued stay in office, arguing that head-of-state immunity could be among the reasons he wants to remain president. The firm made the allegation in a statement posted on its verified X account on Thursday while reacting to Tinubu’s Independence Day address.
The organisation also referred to longstanding allegations concerning Tinubu and alleged heroin trafficking links dating back to the 1980s and 1990s. It claimed that his current position as president could prevent an official re-examination of those allegations and a possible criminal indictment. These are allegations by the advocacy firm and should not be treated as established findings or evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
The comments come amid a broader dispute between Von Batten-Montague-York and Nigerian officials. Last month, the firm announced plans for a $36 million lawsuit involving Tinubu and Femi Fani-Kayode over alleged threats against its principal, Karl Von Batten, saying the proposed case could raise questions about head-of-state immunity and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The proposed claims had not been judicially determined at the time of those reports.
