A United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could face public embarrassment if he attends the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September.
The firm made the claim in a post on its verified X account on Monday, while also alleging that US President Donald Trump would not hold a private bilateral meeting with Tinubu during the gathering.
According to the firm, individuals within the Trump administration had indicated that the US president would not meet privately with Tinubu over allegations linking the Nigerian leader to heroin trafficking.
The claims come amid an ongoing legal dispute in the US over the release of historical records held by American law enforcement agencies concerning Tinubu.
However, the lobbying firm acknowledged that Tinubu, as the sitting President of Nigeria, would retain the right to travel to New York and participate in the UNGA under the access and transit protections applicable to representatives of UN member states.
“We look forward to President Tinubu attending the UNGA next month. Unfortunately for President Tinubu, he is going to be embarrassed at the UN,” the firm said.
It further claimed that world leaders attending the General Assembly would be aware of allegations concerning Tinubu, citing reports it said had emerged from countries including South Africa and Italy.
The firm also threatened to activate a campaign targeting people around the UN headquarters in New York if it received authorisation to do so.
“If we are authorised, we will put into operation our plan to ensure every New Yorker within a six-mile radius of UN Headquarters learns about President Tinubu’s alleged role in smuggling poison (heroin) onto American soil,” it said.
The allegations remain claims by the lobbying firm and have not been established as facts by the UN or the US government.
There was no official response from the Nigerian Presidency or the White House regarding the firm’s claims as of press time.
Tinubu’s expected participation in the UN General Assembly would place him alongside other world leaders for the annual high-level diplomatic gathering, where issues including global security, development and international cooperation are typically discussed.
