Atiku’s US Lobbyist Deletes Post Claiming Trump Appointment

Washington-based lobbyist Karl Von Batten, who has worked with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has deleted a social media post announcing his purported appointment by United States President Donald Trump as a commissioner on a White House presidential commission.

The post, published on the verified X account of Von Batten’s firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., is no longer available on the account.

The firm had earlier announced that its managing partner had been appointed by Trump as a commissioner, describing the development as a significant recognition.

However, the announcement was subsequently downplayed by Sunday Dare, a media aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who said the appointment was to the Commission on Presidential Scholars, an education-focused panel administered by the US Department of Education.

Dare argued that the commission has no mandate over US foreign policy, national security, diplomacy or relations between the United States and Nigeria.

Von Batten is a Washington-based lobbyist and managing partner of Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. He has been associated with efforts to improve Atiku’s profile and standing in the United States.

The lobbyist has also been involved in efforts seeking the release of US law-enforcement records relating to President Tinubu, particularly documents connected to allegations concerning drug trafficking.

The deletion of the appointment announcement has now generated fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the claim and the nature of Von Batten’s reported appointment.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Von Batten nor his firm had publicly provided a detailed explanation for the removal of the post.