Lobbying firm fires back at Keyamo, claims Tinubu govt pressured it over Trump appointment

Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. has hit back at Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, alleging the Tinubu administration pressured the White House over Dr. Karl Von Batten’s appointment to a presidential commission, according to a report by Vanguard.

The firm claimed Nigerian officials repeatedly contacted the White House after initially denying the appointment, prompting confirmation that Trump had indeed named Von Batten to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. It alleged Von Batten later deleted his announcement and apologized to the White House for the inconvenience. The firm connected the controversy to its allegations regarding Tinubu’s purported 1980s-90s heroin trafficking links, calling Keyamo the latest official to criticize its activities.