A United States based law firm has alleged that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is determined to remain in office because his position could shield him from possible legal action abroad.
In posts published on October 1 and October 2, Von Batten Montague York, L.C. claimed that Tinubu’s continued presidency is important to him because of the protection that can come with head of state immunity.
The firm alleged that Tinubu is aware that his position as Nigeria’s president could be a major barrier to any possible renewed investigation into allegations concerning heroin trafficking from Nigeria to the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.
The firm further alleged that losing the protection associated with the presidency could expose Tinubu to the possibility of renewed scrutiny and a new criminal indictment.
In a separate post on October 2, the firm highlighted Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko, describing him as an honest man and human rights lawyer. Boko attended a United Nations General Assembly leaders’ reception hosted by United States President Donald Trump.
The firm contrasted Boko’s attendance with Tinubu’s reported absence from the event. It alleged that Tinubu had been the subject of a major diplomatic engagement effort involving about $9 million and claims concerning access to $700 billion in Nigerian mineral resources.
The firm alleged that Tinubu was disinvited from the event and claimed that he was not seated close to Trump.
It went further by alleging that Tinubu was in a hotel in France and was angry with the law firm over its public statements.
The firm repeated its allegation that Tinubu was connected to a group involved in smuggling heroin from Nigeria into the United States. It also argued that the United States should not associate itself with Tinubu or his administration.
The posts ended with a broader political call for change in Nigeria, declaring that the time for change had arrived.
The allegations come amid continuing political debate over Tinubu’s administration, his international relationships and questions surrounding his political and legal history. However, the statements from Von Batten Montague York remain claims made by the firm, and the material provided does not establish that United States authorities have reopened a criminal case against Tinubu or issued a new indictment against him.
