By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has challenged US-based political advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, to provide evidence supporting its allegation of a drug-trafficking record linked to President Bola Tinubu.
Fani-Kayode made the challenge in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Saturday, 19 September, 2026 while responding to claims concerning funds allegedly linked to the President.
According to him, the allegation was contained in a verified civil forfeiture complaint filed by the United States Department of Justice on July 26, 1993, at the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Fani-Kayode stressed that the complaint was an allegation against property and not a finding that Tinubu personally smuggled heroin.
He therefore challenged the US firm to produce evidence establishing the allegation against the President, rather than relying on the contents of the 1993 civil forfeiture complaint.
The former minister maintained that the distinction between an allegation against property and a finding of personal criminal conduct was important in assessing the claims being made against Tinubu.
He urged the firm to provide evidence to substantiate its allegation of drug trafficking involving the President.
