Jimoh Ibrahim dismisses arrest claims as debate over Tinubu’s planned New York trip heats up
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be arrested or have his movement restricted in the United States while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Ibrahim made the declaration amid renewed public debate and social media discussions surrounding allegations linked to Tinubu’s past in the United States and claims that the Nigerian President could face legal action if he attends the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
According to the Nigerian envoy, the country’s mission to the United Nations has not received any communication from the United States government indicating that President Tinubu would face arrest, detention or restrictions on his movement during the UN General Assembly.
Ibrahim said representatives of UN member states enjoy protections under the 1947 UN-US Headquarters Agreement, particularly provisions relating to access and movement to and from the United Nations headquarters district for official duties.
The ambassador dismissed claims that social media campaigns or political pressure could automatically lead to the arrest of the Nigerian President during an official UN visit.
“Social media cannot criminalise or arrest President Bola Tinubu,” Ibrahim was quoted as saying, insisting that allegations must be separated from proven criminal offences.
The controversy comes as arguments over historical records and allegations concerning Tinubu’s past in the United States continue to generate political tension in Nigeria.
The Presidency has also maintained that the ongoing legal matter in Washington involving requests for US government records is a civil Freedom of Information Act dispute and not a criminal prosecution against President Tinubu. The Presidency said no US court has found Tinubu guilty of criminal wrongdoing in connection with the matter.
Ibrahim argued that an allegation alone does not amount to a criminal conviction, warning against what he described as attempts to use public pressure and social media campaigns to determine criminal liability.
He said the Nigerian government had received no indication from US authorities that Tinubu would be subjected to restrictions while carrying out official responsibilities connected with the UN General Assembly.
The envoy’s statement is likely to further fuel political arguments surrounding Tinubu’s possible trip to New York, especially as supporters and critics of the President continue to trade claims over the legal and political implications of his presence in the United States.
The debate has also drawn attention to the special arrangements governing the presence of representatives of UN member states in New York, where the United Nations Headquarters Agreement provides specific protections relating to access to the headquarters district.
For now, the Nigerian government is standing firmly behind the position that President Tinubu faces no known arrest threat connected to his planned UNGA attendance.
But as the controversy continues to dominate political discussions, the bigger question remains whether Tinubu will attend the General Assembly personally or choose to send another Nigerian representative.
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