Laolu Akande Vows to Defend Himself in Defamation Suit Filed by Atiku’s US Lobbyist

Laolu Akande, host of Inside Sources, says his lawyers will defend him against a defamation suit filed by Karl Von Batten, a United States-based lobbyist, at the US district court for the District of Columbia.

Akande, a former spokesperson of ex-Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, said his legal team would also represent other co-defendants in the case, including Ademola Bello, a public affairs analyst; Sahara Reporters; and Channels TV’s Inside Sources.

In an earlier post on X, Akande had challenged Von-Batten to comment on documentary evidence that the US lobbyist, also known as Ikemefuna Okeke, was convicted of domestic violence years ago.

On Monday, Von Batten’s lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, published a statement on X saying Akande had been served with a federal court summons.

The firm added that it would seek a default judgement if Akande failed to respond within the prescribed period.

BACK STORY 

On September 14, 2026, Bello published an opinion article on Sahara Reporters, questioning Von Batten’s academic records, his use of multiple names, and an alleged domestic assault conviction.

Dissatisfied with the publication, Von Batten filed a lawsuit against Bello and Sahara Reporters on September 15.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources which aired on September 18, Bello discussed the contents of his September 14 opinion article.

Akande is the presenter of Inside Sources.

Von Batten’s US lobbying firm had also previously threatened to sue Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, and President Bola Tinubu over alleged threats to kidnap and physically harm Von Batten.

In April 2026, Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), hired the US lobbying firm, to protect and strengthen his “reputational standing” in the US.

Since the lobbying contract was signed, Von Batten’s background and records have come under public scrutiny.