Tinubu Pledges to Revive Nigeria’s Refineries
Ibrahim Says Tinubu Has Free Passage in US
Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said President Bola Tinubu and members of his family face no restriction on their movement 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, said the Nigerian Mission in New York had received no notification from the US government of any restriction on Tinubu’s movement.
He made this known in a statement issued by the Office of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York.
The envoy cited Section 11 of the 1947 UN-U.S. Agreement, which he said protects representatives of member states and their families from impediments to transit to and from the United Nations headquarters district.
According to him, the provision requires US federal, state and local authorities to avoid restricting the movement of representatives of member states, their families, UN officials, specialised agencies and persons invited to the UN headquarters district on official business.
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Ibrahim said claims that efforts could be made to arrest or criminalise Tinubu during the UNGA would not succeed, stressing that an allegation does not amount to a crime.
He said criminal accusations must be established through due process and proved beyond reasonable doubt before a conviction can be secured.
The ambassador recalled that a former Nigerian president, not Tinubu, was once restricted to a 10-kilometre radius from the UN headquarters over a drug-related allegation, but said the allegation was never proved.
Ibrahim also explained that US law-enforcement authorities could invite individuals to provide information or statements as part of investigations. He said authorities could also collect identifying information, including personal and family history, educational records and fingerprints.
According to him, such information may be used to establish links between individuals, groups and networks, while remaining protected and not necessarily made public in investigations involving financial or other criminal offences.
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He noted that attendance at the UNGA was a matter of national priority, but said countries could choose to send vice presidents or foreign ministers to represent them, with more than 60 per cent of the current speaking list comprising such officials.
Ibrahim urged Nigerians to continue to hold the national flag in high esteem and support the economic transformation being pursued by the Tinubu administration.
