In an assertive statement posted to his X handle, the former minister challenged Von Batten’s credibility and motives.

Key points from Fani-Kayode’s statement include:

• Denial of Allegations: Fani-Kayode dismissed the claims that President Tinubu was bribed, labeling the information as “hogwash” and asserting that Tinubu has not been convicted of any crime.

• Call for Due Process: He insisted that the ongoing US disclosure case concerning Tinubu should be allowed to run its course through the American judicial system, expressing confidence that the rule of law will prevail.

• Personal Attack on the Lobbyist: Fani-Kayode directly questioned Karl Von Batten’s identity, educational background, and legitimacy. He alleged that Von Batten, who was reportedly born Ikemefuna Okeke, adopted his current surname through marriage and that there is no public record to substantiate his claims of attending prestigious universities like Oxford or Harvard.

• Accusation of Misleading Atiku Abubakar: Fani-Kayode claimed that Von Batten was hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and paid $1.2 million for what he described as a futile and fruitless legal and lobbying campaign against President Tinubu. He sarcastically remarked, “How did you manage to fool His Excellency Abubakar Atiku… into paying you 1.2 million USD for pursuing a futile cause?”

• Reaffirmation of Tinubu’s Position: Concluding his statement, Fani-Kayode declared that efforts by Von Batten and his firm will ultimately fail, stating that “President Tinubu’s destiny and fate is not in your hands but rather in the hands of God and the Nigerian people.”

The 32-year-old forward was forced off in the 44th minute due to a chin injury sustained from a physical collision, making way for Franculino Dju and sparking anxiety over his potential absence for both club fixtures and upcoming international duty. Addressing the incident via HaberTS, Cimsir downplayed the severity of the setback and offered reassurance regarding a swift comeback, stating:

“I don’t think it’s a very important thing. There is no troubled situation.”

Prior to the forced exit, Onuachu had emphatically broken a five-match goal drought by scoring twice. He netted the game’s opener within the opening five minutes before Mohamed Salah converted a penalty to double the lead. Onuachu then sealed his brace in the 22nd minute, while further goals from Ernest Muci and Dju rounded off the comprehensive win for the Turkish Cup holders.

The triumphant result offers vital momentum for the squad as they climb the league table following a sluggish beginning to the campaign. The technical team will closely evaluate Onuachu’s recovery trajectory ahead of their upcoming league clash against Konyaspor next weekend.