US lobbying firm alleges Tinubu team 'settled Americans' for Trump meeting

US-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York alleges that Nigerian Presidency officials have privately claimed they ‘settled the Americans’ to secure a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and former US President Donald Trump at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. The firm says it was told by unnamed ‘highly placed Nigerians’ that the Presidency believes FBI and DEA records on Tinubu will never be released and that the meeting will happen because the Americans have been ‘settled’. The firm stresses it has not independently verified these claims.

The allegation surfaces as Nigeria prepares to announce a US‑Nigeria minerals agreement expected to be signed at the UNGA, raising questions about possible conflicts of interest. The firm also notes an unsolicited $3 million offer allegedly made by an APC member linked to Tinubu, though it says it has no evidence tying that offer to the minerals deal. It has begun informing the Trump administration about what it calls an ‘appearance problem’ that could undermine confidence in US institutions.

If these allegations were true, they would suggest that undisclosed payments or favors might be influencing high‑level diplomacy and resource agreements. How should Nigerians view such claims when evaluating government transparency in international negotiations, and what steps—such as demanding official clarification on the FBI/DEA records or the minerals agreement—would help ensure accountability?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/15/tinubu-trump-meeting-in-limbo-as-us-lobbyist-raises-fresh-questions/