Ademola Oshodi says claims that President Bola Tinubu could face arrest in the United States are politically motivated and have no basis.

President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has dismissed reports suggesting that the Nigerian president could be arrested in the United States, describing the claims as “pure nonsense” and politically motivated.

Oshodi spoke during an interview while responding to questions surrounding Tinubu’s decision not to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in person.

The Presidency had earlier confirmed that Tinubu would not physically attend the annual UN gathering, prompting speculation in some quarters about the reason for his absence.

However, Oshodi rejected suggestions that the president’s decision was connected to any possible legal action against him in the United States.

According to the presidential aide, there is no impediment preventing Tinubu from travelling to the US and participating in engagements there.

“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. It is that simple,” Oshodi said.

He further argued that the United States would not arrest a sitting head of state, citing historical examples of foreign leaders who had engaged with the US or visited venues associated with the United Nations despite strained political relations.

“You know, in any situation, they would not. I repeat, America would not, in any case, arrest any heads of state,” he said.

Oshodi referenced former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini while making his argument.

“Muammar Gaddafi, you know of Libya, the guy in Cuba, Castro, you know the Ayatollah Khomeini. There’s so many people that touch the grounds of the United Nations that the Americans did not want,” he said.

The presidential aide also said Tinubu had previously travelled to the United States without incident, noting that he had accompanied the president on some of those trips before and after Tinubu assumed office.

“Bola Tinubu, the president, has been in America. I was there with him twice. I was doing everything prior to that before he was president,” Oshodi said.

He ultimately described the arrest claims as politically driven speculation.

“So this is pure nonsense, and it’s politics,” he added.

Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly comes as his administration continues to engage with foreign governments and international institutions on diplomatic, economic and security matters. The annual UN gathering brings together world leaders and senior government officials to discuss major global and regional issues.

The controversy over Tinubu’s non-attendance has nevertheless generated political debate in Nigeria, with different interpretations emerging over the reasons for the president’s decision.