A United States-based political advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu could be arrested if he travels to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The firm, however, said the Nigerian president could face public embarrassment during his expected visit to the United States.
In a statement posted on its verified X account on Saturday, the firm said there was no plan to arrest Tinubu over allegations concerning his alleged involvement in heroin trafficking.
“There is no plan to arrest Nigerian President Bola Tinubu over his alleged involvement in heroin smuggling if he attends the UN General Assembly this month. Any claim to the contrary is untrue,” the firm stated.
“What is true is that President Tinubu will be embarrassed in New York.”
The statement comes amid renewed attention to allegations concerning Tinubu’s past in the United States and speculation over his expected participation in the UNGA.
Von Batten-Montague-York also claimed that efforts to arrange a meeting between Tinubu and US President Donald Trump would not succeed.
According to the firm, neither a meeting at the White House nor a bilateral engagement on the sidelines of the UNGA was being planned. It attributed this position to allegations surrounding Tinubu’s past in the United States.
The firm further repeated allegations linking the Nigerian president to a heroin-trafficking investigation dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“The FBI claims that Tinubu was part of a criminal organisation that smuggled heroin from Nigeria into the United States during the 1980s and 1990s,” the firm alleged.
The allegations have previously been linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture case in the United States involving approximately $460,000 connected to accounts associated with Tinubu. The forfeiture was a civil proceeding and did not result in a criminal conviction against the Nigerian president. (Politics Nigeria)
The lobbying firm’s latest statement also said it would continue its advocacy efforts in Washington over the allegations.
“We will continue to ensure that the White House and Congress fully understand that Nigerian President Tinubu is an alleged heroin trafficker and a liability to President Trump and the United States,” it said.
However, the claims remain allegations advanced by the lobbying firm and should not be interpreted as evidence that Tinubu has been convicted of heroin trafficking in the United States. Recent reporting on the underlying US records dispute distinguishes the existence of a historical investigation from a finding of criminal guilt. (247 Ureports)
The development comes as preparations continue for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where world leaders are expected to gather later this month.
