$460,000 forfeiture: Atiku tells Tinubu to answer questions, stop attacking lobbyist

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to address questions surrounding the forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States government instead of attacking a US lobbying firm handling the matter.

Atiku’s position followed a statement by the Presidency accusing the Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, of engaging in a political campaign against Tinubu.

The former vice president, through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, said the issue should be about the facts contained in US Department of Justice documents rather than the activities of the lobbyist.

He urged Tinubu and his representatives to explain the circumstances surrounding the 1993 civil forfeiture case in which $460,000 linked to his US bank accounts was forfeited to the American government.

The controversy centres on allegations contained in US court records that the funds were suspected to be proceeds of narcotics trafficking. The case was resolved through a civil forfeiture settlement, and Tinubu has consistently denied any involvement in drug trafficking.

Atiku’s camp said the release and examination of the records were in the public interest, particularly given Tinubu’s position as Nigeria’s President.

The former vice president also questioned why the Presidency was focusing on the US lobbying firm rather than providing answers to questions arising from the documents.

The lobbying firm, which was engaged by Atiku, has said it supplied US officials and members of Congress with documents relating to the historical case and subsequent Freedom of Information Act litigation.

Atiku’s camp maintained that the matter should be addressed through transparency and evidence rather than political attacks.

The dispute has renewed attention on Tinubu’s long-standing US forfeiture case as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensify.