…says no restriction notification issued by US on Nigerian President’s movement during General Assembly
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, says President Bola Tinubu and members of his family enjoy unimpeded transit and cannot be arrested in the United States while attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Ibrahim, who is also Chairman of the United Nations Committee on Budget and Administration, made this known in a statement by the Office of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York.
According to him, Nigerian Mission in New York had received no notification from the US government of any restriction on President Tinubu’s movement during the UNGA.
The envoy, who cited Section 11 of the 1947 UN-U.S. Agreement, said representatives of member-states and their families are protected from impediments to transit to and from the UN headquarters district.
Ibrahim explained that the provision requires US federal, state and local authorities to refrain from imposing restrictions on the movement of representatives of member-states, their families, UN officials, specialised agencies and persons invited to the headquarters district on official business.
He noted that attendance at the UNGA is ultimately a matter of national priority, adding that more than 60 per cent of the current speaking list comprises vice presidents and foreign ministers representing their respective countries.
But he added that presidents could therefore delegate representation when necessary.
The envoy recalled that a former Nigerian president (not Tinubu) was once restricted to a 10-kilometre radius from the UN headquarters in connection with a drug-related allegation.
But the allegation, he said, was never proved.
Ibrahim stressed that an allegation does not constitute a crime, insisting that criminal accusations must be established through due process and proved beyond reasonable doubt before conviction.
The envoy added that efforts on social media to criminalise or secure the arrest of President Tinubu would ultimately prove futile.
He further explained that US law-enforcement authorities may invite individuals to provide information or statements during investigations and may collect identifying details, including personal and family history, educational records and fingerprints.
Such information, he said, is used to establish links between individuals, groups and networks but remains protected and is not necessarily made public in investigations involving financial or other criminal offences.
Ibrahim enjoined Nigerians to continue to hold the national flag in high esteem while supporting the economic transformation being pursued under President Tinubu.
