Mike Arnold Accuses Tinubu, DCI Group of Violating US law

Former Blanco, Texas, Mayor Mike Arnold has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Washington-based lobbying firm DCI Group of potentially violating laws in both the United States and Nigeria.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Arnold alleged that the Nigerian government is paying DCI Group $750,000 per month under a contract filed with the US Department of Justice. 

The stated purpose of the contract, he said, was to inform US authorities and policymakers that the Nigerian government is protecting Christian communities and fighting jihadist groups.

Arnold claimed the firm has instead used its platform to attack former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a possible challenger to Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. 

He pointed to posts that questioned Atiku’s ability to obtain a US visa and mocked the former vice president over his travel documents.

These activities, Arnold argued, fall outside DCI Group’s declared mandate of promoting Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts and protection of religious communities.

He contrasted the arrangement with Atiku’s reported hiring of a different Washington lobbying firm for $1.2 million. 

That firm’s registration documents, Arnold noted, openly stated it was working for the former vice president and against the Nigerian government.

Arnold said DCI Group’s actions could raise issues under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) if political activities conducted on behalf of a foreign principal were not properly disclosed.

“In the United States, leaving political work off a FARA filing is not a typo. It can be charged as a felony if they did it on purpose,” he stated.

He further alleged that using public funds to target a political opponent may breach Nigeria’s Electoral Act, which prohibits the use of state resources to support or undermine political candidates.

Arnold noted that the contract between the Nigerian government and DCI Group, along with the firm’s public statements, are available for public review. 

He called on law enforcement agencies in both countries to investigate the matter.