Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad has described as “irresponsible” claims that President Bola Tinubu will be denied entry into the United States or refused a meeting with US President Donald Trump during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Ahmad, who served as media aide to late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, reacted on X to reports suggesting Tinubu could face embarrassment at the UNGA scheduled for September 8–28, 2026.
He dismissed the claims as politically motivated, saying:“President Bola Tinubu is the democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and allegations, however loudly repeated, are not convictions.
"Serious accusations should be tested against credible evidence and due process, not presented as facts simply because they fit a particular political narrative.”
Ahmad further argued that it was baseless to declare in advance that Trump would refuse to meet Tinubu or that the Nigerian president would be embarrassed at the UN.
His comments followed reports by US lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague York, which stated that Tinubu could travel to America without facing prosecution over past drug trafficking allegations.