$460,000 forfeiture: Answer questions, stop attacking US lobbyist – Atiku tells Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to address questions surrounding its principal’s alleged $460,000 forfeiture in the United States instead of attacking US-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten-Montague-York.

Atiku made this known in a statement issued by his media team on Wednesday.

Recall that reports had emerged of a war of words between Tinubu’s team and Karl Von Batten, owner of the US lobbying firm Batten-Montague-York.

Reacting, Atiku said attacking Von Batten’s personality and character would not answer questions surrounding Tinubu’s alleged $460,000 forfeiture in the US.

According to Atiku, focusing on Von Batten or his $1.2 million lobbying engagement with the former vice president was a diversionary tactic by the Tinubu administration.

“And this obsession with Karl Von Batten is an obvious diversion. Abuse the man. Mock his name. Research his wife. Count his clients. Inspect his socks. When Dare and his colleagues are finished, the $460,000 forfeiture record will still be there.

“That is the problem with documents: they do not respond to insults.

“We will stick to the records.

“Before counting Atiku’s $1.2 million, account for your own $9 million arrangement.

“And before abusing the messenger, answer the $460,000 question. The rest is noise,” he stated.