RismadarVoice Reporters
September 20, 2026
A senior aide to President Bola Tinubu has dismissed suggestions that the United States could arrest the Nigerian president during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Ademola Oshodi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, said such claims were politically motivated.
Mr Oshodi spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme following the Presidency’s confirmation that Mr Tinubu would not attend the UNGA physically this year.
The presidential aide argued that there was no basis for concerns that the Nigerian president could be arrested by US authorities.
He cited former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as examples of foreign leaders who, according to him, had interacted with or travelled to international venues despite disagreements with the United States.
“There is absolutely no impediment. You know, for absolutely no reason, it is pure politics. This election season is a silly season of people saying things for electoral advantage,” Mr Oshodi said.
He maintained that the United States would not arrest a sitting head of state, adding that several foreign leaders who were not favoured by Washington had attended events at the United Nations.
“America would not, in any case, arrest any heads of state,” he said.
Mr Oshodi also said President Tinubu had previously travelled to the United States and that he had accompanied him on two occasions before Mr Tinubu became president.
“So this is pure nonsense, and it’s politics,” he said.
The controversy followed the Presidency’s announcement that Mr Tinubu would not be physically present in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly.
