Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has assured that President Bola Tinubu and members of his family will face no movement restrictions while in the United States for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Ibrahim said the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations had received no communication from US authorities indicating that Tinubu would be subjected to any restriction during his participation in the General Assembly. The ambassador based his position on Section 11 of the 1947 Agreement between the United Nations and the United States concerning the organisation’s headquarters.
According to Ibrahim, the provision protects representatives of UN member states and their families from impediments to their transit to and from the UN headquarters district while carrying out official business.
He explained that the protection also extends to UN officials, officials of specialised agencies and certain persons invited to the UN headquarters district for official purposes.
Ibrahim, who also chairs the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, said the arrangement ensures that representatives of member states can participate in official UN activities without unnecessary restrictions.
The clarification comes amid renewed public discussion over allegations concerning Tinubu’s past in the United States and claims that he could face legal action if he travels to New York for the UNGA.
Ibrahim dismissed suggestions that social media campaigns or political pressure could result in the arrest of the Nigerian President during the international gathering. He stressed that an allegation of criminal conduct does not automatically establish that an individual has committed a crime, insisting that accusations must be tested through due process.
The envoy further argued that anyone making a serious criminal allegation must be prepared to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. He recalled that a former Nigerian president, whom he did not identify as Tinubu, was once restricted to a 10-kilometre radius from the UN headquarters in connection with a drug-related allegation.
Ibrahim said the allegation involving the unnamed former president was never established, using the example to emphasise the distinction between accusations and proven criminal conduct.
The ambassador also explained that US law-enforcement agencies can invite individuals to provide information during investigations without such invitations automatically meaning that the individuals are criminal suspects or have been charged with offences.
He said investigative authorities may collect extensive personal information as part of their work, including family background, educational history and other identifying details. According to him, such information is protected and does not automatically become public simply because it was collected during an investigation.
The comments come as controversy continues over historical US records connected to a narcotics investigation and civil forfeiture proceedings involving funds associated with Tinubu.
A US-based political advisory and lobbying firm has been campaigning for access to records held by American law-enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.
However, the existence of records or allegations connected to an investigation does not by itself establish criminal liability against the Nigerian President.
Ibrahim therefore urged Nigerians to distinguish between allegations circulating publicly and matters that have been established through the appropriate legal process.
The envoy also confirmed that Tinubu is expected to participate in the 81st UN General Assembly in New York later this month. The high-level General Debate is scheduled to take place from September 22 to September 28, bringing together presidents, prime ministers and other senior representatives from UN member states.
Tinubu personally attended the 78th UN General Assembly in 2023, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the 79th and 80th sessions.
Ibrahim said Tinubu’s expected participation would provide an opportunity for Nigeria to engage world leaders and showcase the country’s economic and institutional reforms.
He added that Nigeria would use the international platform to advance discussions around energy, education, healthcare, border security and policing in West Africa.
With the UNGA approaching, Ibrahim’s statement is likely to ease concerns surrounding Tinubu’s planned trip to New York, while the broader debate over his historical US records is expected to continue.
For now, the Nigerian Mission to the UN maintains that it has received no notification of any US movement restriction against Tinubu or his family during the General Assembly.