ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has dismissed reports suggesting that President Bola Tinubu could be arrested or restricted while attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in the United States.
Ibrahim said Tinubu and members of his family enjoy protection under the agreement governing the relationship between the United Nations and the United States and can transit to and from the UN headquarters without impediment.
Vanguard reports that the envoy stated this in a statement issued by the Office of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York.
According to him, the Nigerian Mission has received no communication from the US government indicating that Tinubu’s movement would be restricted during the UNGA.
Ibrahim cited Section 11 of the 1947 UN-U.S. Agreement, which provides protections for representatives of member states and their families travelling to and from the UN headquarters district.
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He explained that the provision requires US federal, state and local authorities to refrain from imposing restrictions on representatives of member states, their families, UN officials, specialised agencies and persons invited to the UN headquarters for official business.
The ambassador said the provision therefore guarantees unimpeded transit for eligible representatives and their accompanying family members during official UN engagements.
He also noted that attendance at the UNGA did not necessarily require every country’s president to be physically present, pointing out that a significant proportion of those listed to speak at the current session were vice presidents and foreign ministers representing their countries.
Ibrahim said more than 60 per cent of the current speaking list comprised vice presidents and foreign ministers, adding that presidents could delegate representation where necessary.
The envoy also referred to an incident involving a former Nigerian president, stressing that the individual was not Tinubu.
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He said the former president was once restricted to a 10-kilometre radius from the UN headquarters in connection with a drug-related allegation, but added that the allegation was never established.
Ibrahim used the example to draw a distinction between an allegation and a proven criminal offence.
He maintained that an allegation, by itself, does not amount to a crime, stressing that criminal accusations must be subjected to due process and established beyond reasonable doubt before conviction.
The envoy consequently dismissed social media campaigns seeking to portray Tinubu as a criminal or calling for his arrest in the United States.
He said such efforts would ultimately amount to nothing, given the protections applicable to representatives attending official UN engagements.
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Ibrahim, however, explained that US law-enforcement authorities could invite individuals to provide information or statements in the course of investigations.
He said authorities could also collect identifying information such as personal and family history, educational records and fingerprints where necessary.
According to him, such information could assist investigators in establishing relationships between individuals, groups and networks.
He added that information obtained during investigations involving financial or other criminal matters was protected and was not automatically made public.
The ambassador urged Nigerians to continue to uphold the national flag and support what he described as the economic transformation being pursued by the Tinubu administration.
His comments come ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, with world leaders and senior government officials expected to converge on New York for the annual high-level diplomatic gathering.