US court records uncover past assault conviction of Atiku’s lobbyist

A United States court document shows Karl Von Batten, a lobbyist hired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend in 2003.

According to TheCable, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals judgment identified Von Batten as Karl M.E. Okeke and detailed the July 4, 2003 assault involving Cynthia D. Murphy.

The court said Okeke repeatedly hit Murphy, kicked her and pushed her against a wall, leaving her with multiple injuries.

He was sentenced to 180 days in jail in December 2003, but the sentence was suspended. He received one year of probation, 50 hours of community service and domestic violence counselling.

Atiku hired Von Batten’s Washington-based lobbying firm in April 2026 under a $1.2 million annual contract.