…Says President risks political embarrassment
CITIZENS COMPASS— A US-based political consulting and lobbying organisation, Von Batten-Montague-York, on Saturday, said there was no known plan by US authorities to arrest the Nigerian president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over allegations concerning his past.
However, the lobbying organisation claimed Mr President’s visit could still become politically embarrassing.
It rejected reports suggesting the possible arrest of Tinubu should he travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The organisation made the remarks through a statement published on its verified 𝕏 account as discussions continued over Tinubu’s expected attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York.
“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.
“What is true is that President Tinubu will be embarrassed in New York.”
The firm also maintained that attempts to arrange a meeting between Tinubu and US President Donald Trump would not materialise.
According to the organisation, there was no plan for both leaders to hold talks either at the White House or during the diplomatic activities surrounding the UN General Assembly.
It linked its position to allegations it has previously raised about Tinubu’s history in the United States, arguing that such claims would make a meeting with Trump inappropriate.
The organisation further repeated allegations concerning Tinubu’s alleged links to heroin trafficking in the US decades ago.
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 claimed.
The allegations have previously featured in discussions surrounding Tinubu’s activities in the US, particularly a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving $460,000 that was forfeited to the American government.
Tinubu has faced renewed scrutiny over the matter at various points, although the forfeiture case has been a subject of political debate and competing interpretations.
Von Batten-Montague-York said it intended to continue presenting its allegations to officials in the US government.
“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,” the firm stated.
