Dr. Von Batten, the US lobbyist hired by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has given a former presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande and Channels Television till Monday to verify information punlished about him.
Von Batten, in a statement on X, said he had reviewed the latest attack video on him, and was prepared to consider that Akande and Channels TV were dragged into what he said was “false information by the Nigerian Presidency.”
The full statement read, “This is Dr. Von Batten. I have reviewed the latest attack video, and while I am not excusing what was broadcast, I am prepared to consider the possibility that Mr. Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) and Channels Television (@channelstv) were dragged into repeating false information by the Nigerian Presidency (@OfficialABAT), @OfficialAPCNg, or others, without first independently verifying it.
“For that reason, I am giving Mr. Akande and Channels an opportunity to redeem themselves and demonstrate that they are prepared to practice true journalism.
“I will grant Mr. Akande an in-person, off-camera interview in Washington, D.C., or New York. I will provide access to the underlying evidence, including my academic records and degrees, presidential appointment documentation, and other documents directly relevant to the claims made about me.
“I will also authorize Columbia University, A.T. Still University, the University of Oxford, and other relevant institutions to verify the information directly.
“Ask the difficult questions. Examine the documents. Contact the institutions. Verify everything independently.
“Mr. Akande has until Monday, September 21, at 12:00 noon ET to accept this offer by contacting my assistant and arranging the interview.
“Decline the opportunity if you choose. But if you continue publishing or broadcasting these allegations after being offered direct access to the subject, the underlying documents, and independent institutional verification, you should be prepared to explain in US federal court why you chose not to examine that evidence,” Von Batten said.
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