Presidential media aide Dr Sunday Dare has attacked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s use of a Washington advisory firm, saying United States Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) records show a $1.2 million, 12-month contract linked to political activities ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
Dare made the accusation on X on Tuesday, describing reports issued by Dr Karl-Marx Edward Okeke-Von Batten as political material presented as classified information. He said the reports contained no intelligence document, named Western official or evidence of an exchange involving Nigerian secrets or resources.
The dispute centres on claims connected with ongoing US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for historical records held by American federal agencies.
Dare said the US Department of Justice FARA records show that Atiku contracted Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a Washington-based firm, under a $1.2 million, 12-month retainer.
Dare questions Washington campaign
Dare said the documents identify Okeke-Von Batten as a commercial lobbyist and founder of the firm, rejecting his presentation as a “Senior Government Advisor”.
He said Okeke-Von Batten has also used the names Ikemefuna Okeke, Karl Von Batten and Dr Karl-Marx Edward Okeke-Von Batten III.
Dare said the consultant is a US-based Nigerian who took the “Von Batten” surname after his marriage to Elizabeth Von Batten.
He also rejected claims that the consultant’s comments represent the position of the US government or President Donald Trump.
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“Dr. Karl Von Batten’s comments represent solely the position of an individual associated with Atiku-linked political interests, not the U.S. government or President Trump,” Dare said.
Dare said the reports did not establish any connection between President Bola Tinubu’s European trip and the US court proceedings over the FOIA requests.
He said Tinubu was on a previously scheduled annual leave and that the US case had been active since 2023.
Dare said the FBI’s main concern in the court process was protecting the methods it uses to gather information and the safety of its sources.
He challenged Okeke-Von Batten to approach the judge handling the case, saying such an action could lead to serious charges of judicial obstruction.
The presidential aide also questioned claims that the Washington consultant had access to members of the Trump administration, including Trump himself.
US records and Nigeria’s 2027 politics
Dare said the FARA filing shows that the Washington firm’s work involved countering Nigerian government narratives and using historical judicial records in a political campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the material being circulated from Washington should not be presented as a US government position.
The dispute has also featured discussion of the FOIA requests by Wole Afolabi, SAN, on Channels Television.
Dare said Afolabi explained that legal action to withhold parts of the records was based on US legal provisions protecting confidential investigative processes.
Dare also cited Afolabi’s position that a person who had been criminally liable under US law during past investigations would have faced indictment and prosecution at the time.
The presidential aide said the American courts and law enforcement agencies should handle the proceedings under their legal duties without political interference.
He also attacked the opposition’s political direction ahead of 2027, saying it had not presented what he called economic blueprints, structural reforms or industrial and agricultural plans.
Dare accused the opposition of criticising Tinubu’s economic policies after earlier positions on issues such as fuel subsidy removal.
He said political support in 2027 would be determined by Nigerian voters through electoral campaigns, policy promises and service delivery at home.
Dare also defended Tinubu’s administration, citing fiscal discipline, infrastructure and institutional security reforms as areas of its work.
He said political campaigns should be based on domestic performance and plans presented to Nigerian voters, not historical US records or material produced by foreign lobbyists.
Dare said political validation must come through the ballot box and service to Nigerians, not through paid material produced abroad.
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