Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has said President Bola Tinubu and members of his family enjoy unimpeded transit in the United States while attending the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA.
Ibrahim made the assertion in a statement amid speculation that Tinubu could face arrest if he attends the UNGA meeting scheduled for this month over drug-related allegations previously linked to him.
According to the envoy, there has been no notice from the United States government restricting the movement of President Tinubu during the UNGA.
Citing Section 11 of the 1947 UN-US Agreement, Ibrahim said Tinubu and members of his family are protected against restrictions on their movement 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 UN member states, their families, UN officials, officials of specialised agencies and persons invited to the headquarters district on official business.
“President Tinubu and his family have unimpeded US transit. Attendance at the UNGA is ultimately a matter of national priority.
“A former Nigerian president, not President Tinubu, was once restricted to a 10-kilometre radius from the UN headquarters in connection with a drug-related allegation. The allegation was never proved,” Ibrahim said.
UNGA: Tinubu, family enjoy unimpeded US transit — Nigeria’s UN Rep