A United States-based lobby firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said it is engaging the United States (US) Government over alleged human rights concerns in Nigeria.
The firm said the issues under review include alleged political intimidation, arrests of critics of the government, and what it described as the weakening of democratic freedoms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bellnews reports that in a statement posted on its official 𝕏 handle on Monday, May 18, the firm accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of using state institutions to intimidate political opponents and government critics.
“The Nigerian government under Bola Tinubu is increasingly displaying the behaviour of a single-party dictatorship consolidating power through fear and intimidation,” the firm said.
Von Batten-Montague-York claimed that public figures and ordinary citizens who openly criticise the Federal Government were increasingly facing arrests, detention, or corruption charges.
It said it was tracking cases it considered troubling and would continue to raise concerns with relevant authorities in the United States.
The firm stated, “Across Nigeria, public figures and ordinary citizens who criticise the current government are suddenly being arrested, detained, or charged with corruption.”
It added that the pattern of events had become a source of concern.
According to the firm, “the common thread is becoming difficult to ignore: critics of the #Tinubu government are increasingly being targeted.”
The lobby firm specifically mentioned the legal troubles involving a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, claiming that he was “charged after publicly criticising President Tinubu.”
It also referenced businessman John Olatunde Ayeni, who it said had “reportedly faced legal pressure after criticising the current government.”
The firm did not provide court documents or official records in the statement to support its claims, but said the cases formed part of developments it was monitoring.
It further alleged that several Nigerians without public influence were also being subjected to intimidation and unlawful treatment without attracting international attention.
According to the statement, “thousands of ordinary Nigerians with no public profile are being arrested, beaten, intimidated, or disappearing without international attention.”
US Congress, Trump Administration To Be Briefed
The firm said it would brief the administration of United States President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress on what it described as the growing use of state institutions against dissenting voices in Nigeria.
It warned that the alleged trend could affect democratic participation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The statement said the firm would draw attention to “the growing weaponisation of state institutions to silence dissent ahead of the next presidential election.”
The development comes amid rising political tension in Nigeria as opposition figures and interest groups begin realignments ahead of the next general election.
El-Rufai Remains In Custody Despite Bail Ruling
The allegations also come against the backdrop of the continued detention of El-Rufai, who has reportedly spent 91 days in custody despite a Federal High Court ruling granting him ₦100m bail in an alleged national security-related case.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had imposed strict bail conditions, including the provision of a high-ranking civil servant as surety and relevant property documents.
However, El-Rufai remains in detention following a separate corruption case in which a Kaduna State High Court ordered that he be held by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
His continued detention has drawn criticism from his family members, political allies and supporters.
Bellnews reports that supporters of the former Kaduna governor have staged protests at the Department of State Services headquarters in Abuja, accusing security agencies of disobeying court directives.
The protesters also alleged that El-Rufai had been denied access to medical care and his legal rights.
The Federal Government and relevant security agencies had yet to respond to the latest allegations by the US lobby firm as of the time of filing this report.