A United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could face embarrassment if he attends the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September.
The firm made the claim in a post published Monday on its verified X account.
It also alleged that a private meeting President Tinubu has reportedly been seeking with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UNGA is unlikely to take place.
According to the firm, unnamed members of the Trump administration have indicated that Trump would not hold a private meeting with Tinubu over allegations linking the Nigerian president to heroin trafficking.
However, the firm acknowledged that Tinubu, as Nigeria’s president, would be able to travel to New York and attend the UNGA under the access and transit protections available 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 stated.
The lobbying group further claimed that world leaders attending the UNGA would be aware of allegations concerning Tinubu, citing reports from countries including South Africa and Italy.
The firm also threatened to activate what it described as a plan to raise awareness among residents of New York about the allegations against the Nigerian president.
It said that, if authorised, it would seek to reach people within a six-mile radius of the United Nations headquarters with information concerning what it described as Tinubu’s alleged involvement in heroin smuggling into the United States.
The allegations contained in the firm’s statement remain claims by the lobbying organisation and should not be construed as established facts.
