By George Omagbemi
A US lobbying firm linked to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has questioned a reported plan for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as Nigeria and the United States move towards a proposed agreement on critical minerals.
Von Batten-Montague-York (VBMY), a Washington-based firm retained by Atiku, raised the concerns in a statement on Monday, September 14, 2026. The firm alleged that it had been told by highly placed Nigerians that officials close to the Nigerian Presidency believed the Tinubu-Trump meeting would proceed because Nigeria had “settled the Americans.”
However, VBMY expressly acknowledged that it had not independently verified the claim.
The firm also linked its concerns to a proposed US-Nigeria minerals agreement reportedly being prepared for signing during the UN General Assembly. It argued that the timing could create questions about the appearance of impropriety.
VBMY further referenced an earlier allegation that its founder, Karl Von Batten, was offered $3 million by an individual it was told was connected to Tinubu. The firm has not provided independently verified evidence establishing the alleged connection to the President, while it also stated that it had no evidence linking the $3 million allegation to the proposed minerals agreement.
The Nigerian Presidency has previously dismissed VBMY’s allegations, describing the firm as a commercial lobbyist and questioning its credibility.
The proposed minerals agreement is part of broader efforts by Nigeria and the United States to deepen cooperation in the critical-minerals sector.
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