Nigeria's UN envoy dismisses claims of Tinubu arrest risk in US

Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has dismissed social media claims suggesting that President Bola Tinubu and his family could face arrest or movement restrictions in the United States during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Ibrahim stated that the Nigerian Mission in New York has received no notification from the U.S. government regarding any legal actions or restrictions. He cited Section 11 of the 1947 UN-U.S. Headquarters Agreement, which mandates that U.S. federal, state, and local authorities refrain from impeding the transit of UN member state representatives, their families, and UN officials to and from the headquarters district.

The envoy emphasized that an allegation does not constitute a crime and noted that criminal accusations must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt through due process. He described the rumors of potential arrest as an “exercise in futility” driven by political opposition.