By Our Correspondent
A fresh political controversy has emerged as a U.S.-based lobbying firm representing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says it has shared historical United States Department of Justice (DOJ) records involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with officials connected to the Trump administration and members of the U.S. Congress.
The development has generated widespread discussion in Nigeria’s political space, with the documents reportedly linked to a decades-old U.S. civil forfeiture case involving funds associated with Tinubu.
The lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., said the materials are being provided to American policymakers and lawmakers as part of its advocacy work. The move comes as Atiku continues to raise concerns about issues surrounding Tinubu’s past and public record.
The latest action has pushed Nigeria’s political rivalry onto an international stage, with Washington now becoming a new arena for competing narratives from both sides.
Atiku, a former presidential candidate and one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures, has continued efforts to draw attention to matters he believes deserve further review. Through the lobbying firm, his camp is seeking to engage U.S. officials and policy influencers on the issues being raised.
The documents reportedly relate to events from several decades ago and have renewed public debate over Tinubu’s history in the United States. However, the existence of historical records or allegations does not automatically amount to a legal finding of wrongdoing, and any conclusions would require proper examination of the evidence.
Supporters of President Tinubu have rejected the claims, describing the renewed attention as politically motivated. They maintain that the allegations are part of opposition efforts to challenge his leadership and administration.
The presidency and Tinubu’s allies have continued to defend his record, pointing to his position as Nigeria’s elected president and his engagements with international partners.
As the documents are reportedly presented to U.S. officials and lawmakers, attention will now focus on whether the move leads to further discussions in Washington or remains part of a wider political strategy.
The controversy highlights the growing role of international lobbying and global advocacy in Nigeria’s political affairs, as major political actors seek influence and attention beyond the country’s borders.
