A United States-based lobbying and policy advisory firm linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that its founder, Dr Karl Von Batten, was offered three million dollars to stop its campaign concerning allegations against President Bola Tinubu.

The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, said the offer was made a few days ago by an individual it was told was connected to President Tinubu. It also claimed Von Batten was invited to a confidential meeting in London.

The firm said its founder rejected the offer and preserved communications relating to the alleged approach. It added that it had contacted members of Atiku Abubakar’s campaign to establish the identity and alleged connection of the individual involved.

The firm further claimed that a smear campaign against its founder began after he rejected the offer and said it would submit the alleged communications to the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for review.

However, the Presidency dismissed the claims, with President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, describing Von Batten as a commercial lobbyist and not a representative of the United States government.

Dare also questioned the firm’s credibility and challenged it to produce the alleged intelligence reports, identify its sources and provide documentary evidence to support its claims.

He further cited United States Foreign Agents Registration Act filings which he said showed that Atiku had contracted Von Batten-Montague-York on a 1.2-million-dollar, 12-month retainer.

The lobbying firm maintained that it had preserved evidence of the alleged three-million-dollar offer and would submit it to US authorities. The claims have not been independently verified.