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United States-based political advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has explained why it deleted an X post announcing that its managing partner, Dr Karl Von Batten, had been appointed by US President Donald Trump to the Commission on Presidential Scholars.

The firm said the post was removed after the White House contacted Von Batten over what it described as repeated calls from the Nigerian government concerning the appointment.

In a statement posted on its verified X account on Saturday, the firm claimed that Nigerian officials had repeatedly contacted the US administration about Von Batten’s reported appointment.

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According to the firm, Von Batten apologised to the White House, saying he had not anticipated that the announcement would result in repeated communication between Nigerian officials and the US government.

“For the record, we deleted the post after the White House informed Dr Von Batten that the Nigerian government was repeatedly calling and ‘whining’ about the appointment,” the firm said.

The firm further alleged that the Nigerian government had become concerned about Von Batten’s work relating to allegations involving President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

It claimed that the Nigerian Presidency initially denied that Von Batten had been appointed to a White House commission before allegedly contacting the White House repeatedly.

“The Nigerian Presidency is so afraid that it originally lied and claimed that Dr Von Batten was never appointed by US President Donald Trump to a White House Commission,” the statement said.

The firm also alleged that the White House subsequently confirmed that Trump had appointed Von Batten to the Commission on Presidential Scholars.

It accused officials in the Nigerian government of reacting to the deletion of the original announcement rather than addressing the alleged appointment.

The statement also mentioned recent criticism from individuals associated with the Nigerian government, including presidential spokespersons and Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.

The firm said it expected further reactions from senior Nigerian officials, mentioning Vice President Kashim Shettima.

It concluded by questioning why the Nigerian government would be concerned about the activities of one individual.

The claims contained in the statement represent the firm’s account of the dispute, and the allegations concerning President Tinubu and the FBI were not independently established in the material provided.

The controversy comes amid heightened public attention around Von Batten’s political activities and claims concerning his reported links to the Trump administration.