Former Aviation Minister
OpenLife News reports that former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, could lose his United States visa and be ordered to pay $36 million in damages if found liable by a US court over alleged threats of kidnap and physical harm.
This follows a statement on Wednesday by a US law firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, which said it has been cleared and authorised to file a $36 million federal lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu and Fani-Kayode before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
The firm, which claims to be working for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alleged that Fani-Kayode made threats of kidnap and physical harm to its principal, Dr Von Batten, as part of an alleged organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency.
“We have been cleared and authorized to proceed with a $36 million federal lawsuit against Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (@OfficialABAT) and Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia,” the statement said.
“The suit arises from threats of kidnap and physical harm to Dr Von Batten, made by Ambassador Fani-Kayode as part of the alleged organised criminal conspiracy involving the Nigerian Presidency,” the statement clarified.
The $36m Liability
According to the firm, the case will proceed under D.C. tort law, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), including 28 U.S.C. § 1605B and 18 U.S.C. §§ 2331 and 2333.
If the D.C. court finds Fani-Kayode liable under ATA, which provides civil remedy to US nationals for acts of international terrorism, the $36 million could be tripled.
Under US anti-terrorism law, courts can award treble damages, meaning the former minister could face over $100 million in financial penalty plus legal costs.
For President Tinubu, who is also joined in the suit, the law firm admitted it would be a test of head-of-state immunity.
“As to President Tinubu, this case will test the limits of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and head-of-state immunity while Tinubu remains President,” it said.
How Femi Kayode Could Lose US Visa
Beyond the financial penalty, the former minister risks severe immigration consequences.
The law firm said after filing next week, it will petition US, UK and EU immigration authorities to review Fani-Kayode’s travel and visa status over the alleged extrajudicial threats.
It cited US law under INA § 212(a)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B), which provides terrorism-related grounds of inadmissibility, and INA § 221(i), 8 U.S.C. § 1201(i), which gives the Secretary of State authority to revoke a visa.
If US authorities determine that the alleged threat of kidnap constitutes engagement in terrorist activity or threat to US nationals, Fani-Kayode could face:
-Immediate revocation of any existing US visa
-Denial of future US visa applications and ineligibility to enter
-Possible extension of the ban to UK and EU under shared security intelligence
-Criminal referral if the threat is deemed to violate US federal law on interstate threats, which carries up to 5 years imprisonment.
“Any determination will be for the appropriate authorities,” the firm said.
In all of this however, Fani-Kayode remains innocent until proven otherwise, and the suit is yet to be filed and tested in court.
Moreso, neither the Presidency nor Fani-Kayode has responded to the claims as of press time. The suit is yet to be filed, and all allegations remain unproven until tested in court.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode who has been appointed as an Ambassador by President Bola Tinubu has not yet formally resumed duty in South Africa even though he received his Letters of Credence on July 7, 2026 to serve as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini.
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