Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has dismissed concerns over the possibility of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu being arrested or restricted during his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Ibrahim said Tinubu and members of his family would enjoy free passage in the United States while attending the UNGA, stressing that the Nigerian Mission in New York had received no notification from the US government of any restriction on the President’s movement.

The envoy made the clarification in a statement issued by Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Ibrahim, who also chairs the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, cited Section 11 of the 1947 UN-U.S. Agreement, which provides for the unhindered transit of representatives of UN member states and their families to and from the UN headquarters district.

He 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 UN headquarters district on official business.

The clarification comes amid speculation on social media about whether Tinubu could face legal action or arrest while in the United States for the UNGA.

Ibrahim described attempts to criminalise or secure the arrest of the President through social media campaigns as futile, stressing that allegations do not amount to established criminal liability.

He recalled that a former Nigerian president, rather than Tinubu, had once been restricted to a 10-kilometre radius from the UN headquarters in connection with a drug-related allegation.

According to him, the allegation against the former president was never proved.

Ibrahim emphasised that criminal accusations must be subjected to due process and established beyond reasonable doubt before conviction.

He also explained that US law-enforcement agencies may invite individuals to provide information or statements during investigations and may collect personal information, including family history, educational records and fingerprints.

Such information, he said, could be used by investigators to establish links between individuals, groups and networks, but its collection does not automatically mean that an individual has been accused or convicted of a crime.

The Nigerian envoy further noted that attendance at the UNGA remains a matter of national priority, although countries can choose to delegate representation to vice presidents or foreign ministers.

He said more than 60 per cent of the current speaking list comprised vice presidents and foreign ministers representing their respective countries.

Ibrahim urged Nigerians to continue to support the country and what he described as the economic transformation agenda of the Tinubu administration.