Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of his family enjoy unimpeded transit and cannot be arrested in the United States while attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Ibrahim, who is also Chairman of the United Nations Committee on Budget and Administration, stated this yesterday in a statement issued by the Office of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York.

The envoy said the Nigerian Mission in New York had received no notification from the United States government indicating any restriction on Tinubu’s movement during the UNGA.

He said the President and his family were protected under the 1947 UN-U.S. Agreement, particularly Section 11, which provides for freedom of transit for representatives of member states attending official United Nations activities.

Citing the provision, Ibrahim said: “Representatives of member states and their families are protected from impediments to transit to and from the UN headquarters district.”

He explained that the agreement requires US federal, state and local authorities to refrain from imposing restrictions on the movement of representatives of member states and their families.

According to him, the protection also extends to UN officials, specialised agencies and persons invited to the UN headquarters district on official business.

He added that the provision guarantees the necessary freedom of movement for representatives attending official United Nations activities.

Ibrahim said the Nigerian Mission in New York had not been informed of any restriction on Tinubu’s movement by the U.S. government.

He, however, noted that attendance at the UNGA was ultimately a matter of national priority, adding that countries could delegate representation where necessary.

According to him, more than 60 per cent of the current speaking list comprises vice presidents and foreign ministers representing their respective countries.

The Nigerian envoy also recalled an incident involving a former Nigerian President, stressing that the individual was not Tinubu.

He said the former president was once restricted to a 10-kilometre radius from the UN headquarters in connection with a drug-related allegation.

Ibrahim stressed that the allegation was never proved, maintaining that an allegation should not be equated with guilt or criminal conviction.

According to him, criminal accusations must be subjected to due process and established beyond reasonable doubt before a person can be convicted.

Ibrahim also dismissed attempts on social media to portray Tinubu as facing an imminent arrest in the United States.