Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, professor and former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, has posted a cartoon describing Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the housekeeper of France after French President Emmanuel Macron left Paris for New York.
Tinubu remains in France after attending a private dinner with Macron at the Elysee Palace on 17 September.
The cartoon, which spread widely on 21 September, shows Macron leaving France for the United Nations gathering in New York while Tinubu remains behind.
Odinkalu’s post mocked Tinubu’s continued stay in France as Macron travelled to the United States for the annual global meeting.
Tinubu left Nigeria on 30 August for a three week working vacation that began in London before continuing in Paris on 13 September.
The president had been expected to attend the United Nations gathering in New York. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States had earlier posted that Tinubu would attend the meeting and sit with United States President Donald Trump.
That expectation added to questions over Tinubu’s decision to remain in France while Vice President Kashim Shettima travelled to New York to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he addressed world leaders on 22 September.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading the country’s delegation and is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
The presidency has said Tinubu extended his stay in France by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend. It also said the president remains in contact with officials and that government business continues while he is away.
Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations gathering has drawn criticism from opposition groups and political activists.
The African Democratic Congress described the extended stay in France as a national shame, while the Obidient Movement questioned why the president could remain in France but not travel to New York for the United Nations meeting.
Some critics have also alleged that the trip involves medical care, although such claims have not been established.
The presidency has defended the arrangement, saying Shettima is fully representing Nigeria at the United Nations and that there is no issue preventing Tinubu from travelling to the United States.
Tinubu’s US Drug Investigation Records
Tinubu has also faced renewed attention over historical US records connected to a drug trafficking investigation from the early 1990s.
A 1993 US federal court forfeiture case involved about $460,000 held in an account in Tinubu’s name. The court record states that the United States had alleged there was probable cause to believe the funds represented proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions prohibited under US law.
The case ended in a settlement under which $460,000 from the account was forfeited to the United States, while other funds covered by the proceeding were released. The forfeiture was a civil proceeding and does not by itself establish that Tinubu was convicted of a drug trafficking offence.
The issue has returned to the courts in 2026 as American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan seeks records from the US Department of Justice, FBI and DEA concerning historical investigations involving Tinubu.
The records sought include FBI files and interview records covering the period from 1992 to 1993. Tinubu’s legal team has challenged the release of some of the records and has argued that they should remain withheld or redacted. Tinubu has denied wrongdoing.
A 2025 ruling by a US District Court in Washington also documented that Tinubu was criminally investigated as part of a wider investigation involving the FBI, DEA and other US agencies. The court record said a government affidavit described probable cause concerning certain accounts controlled by Tinubu and alleged financial transactions connected to drug trafficking proceeds.
The historical US records have become part of renewed public debate surrounding Tinubu as his extended stay in France keeps attention on his international travels and political record.
This is the third consecutive year Tinubu has not attended the annual United Nations gathering in person since taking office. He attended the gathering in 2023.
