The American firm engaged by former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to launder his image, says it plans to file a $26 million suit against Omoyele Sowore’s Sahara Reporters and New York-based author, Ademola Bello, for defamation.
Von Batten Montague-York said in post on X that it is suing Sahara Reporters and Bello for false and defamatory statements published about Dr. Karl Von Batten.
“We just completed a 16-hour marathon session finalizing our comprehensive 19-page federal defamation lawsuit against @SaharaReporters and Ademola Bello.
“The complaint is fully compiled, supported by extensive documentary evidence, and ready for filing.
“In a few hours, I will personally walk into the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to officially file the lawsuit.
“The time for the Nigerian Presidency’s (@officialABAT) online theater is over, as are attempts to distract attention from the ongoing federal litigation concerning drug-trafficking allegations involving Nigeria’s President Bola #Tinubu.
“The false and defamatory allegations against me, which we believe are part of a broader effort to discredit me and interfere with our work, will now be tested in federal court, before a federal judge, where we are seeking $26 million in damages,” Von Batten said.
In an earlier post, the firm said it had instructed its legal team to prepare a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., against New York-based @SaharaReporters and New York-based author Ademola Wasiu Olalekan Bello.
“We believe these publications are part of a coordinated effort to pressure Dr. Von Batten to stop our firm’s efforts to secure the public release of @FBI and @DEAHQ records concerning allegations of drug trafficking involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (@OfficialABAT).
“We strongly support freedom of the press and vigorous public debate. But freedom of the press does not give anyone a license to knowingly publish false statements of fact about another person.”
Von Batten said it intended to seek appropriate damages and hold both the publication and Mr. Bello accountable in US federal court.
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