Trump Appoints US Lobbyist Linked To Atiku’s Tinubu Records Campaign To White House Commission

United States President Donald Trump has reportedly appointed Dr Karl Von Batten, a managing partner of VonBatten-Montague-York, L.C., to serve as a commissioner on a White House presidential commission.

The announcement was made by Von Batten’s firm in a statement shared on social media on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Von Batten expressed appreciation to Trump for the appointment and the confidence placed in him.

“Dr. Von Batten is deeply grateful to President Trump (The Chief) for this appointment and for the confidence placed in him,” the statement said.

The firm described the appointment as an honour and said it reflected Von Batten’s longstanding commitment to public service, leadership and the United States.

The reported appointment has attracted attention in Nigeria because Von Batten’s firm has recently been associated with lobbying activities concerning US records relating to President Bola Tinubu.

The development comes shortly after reports that a US lobbying firm hired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had made claims concerning efforts to obtain records linked to allegations against Tinubu.

The lobbying controversy has generated political reactions in Nigeria, with supporters and opponents of the President offering differing interpretations of the reported US activities.

However, the announcement of Von Batten’s appointment does not, by itself, establish any connection between his new White House role and the lobbying activities involving Nigerian political figures.

Details of the specific presidential commission to which Von Batten has reportedly been appointed were not provided in the statement announcing the development.

Further official information from the White House would be required to establish the commission’s mandate, membership and the precise nature of Von Batten’s role.