There Are No Mysteries About Tinubu, Says Reno Omokri

Ambassador-designate to Mexico dismisses claims surrounding President Tinubu’s FBI records, says existence of files does not mean criminal record

Funmi Adewoju SuleoduSeptember 14, 20262 Mins read

Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has dismissed claims that there are unresolved mysteries surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the President does not have a criminal record.

Omokri made the remarks amid renewed controversy over records held by United States law-enforcement agencies concerning Tinubu and an ongoing legal battle over the disclosure of some of those records.

Speaking on Channels Television, Omokri argued that the existence of FBI records relating to an individual should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of criminal activity.

According to him, FBI databases can contain information generated through routine processes, including background checks and other official interactions with US authorities.

He maintained that Tinubu has no criminal record, arguing that the President’s name appearing in FBI records does not in itself establish that he committed a crime.

Omokri also said that virtually anyone who has undergone certain US government background or immigration checks could have records with American law-enforcement agencies.

His comments come against the backdrop of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act case in a US federal court involving requests for records held by the FBI and other US government agencies concerning Tinubu.

The Presidency has said the case should not be interpreted as a criminal proceeding against the Nigerian President. It described the matter as a civil dispute over the disclosure of government records and stressed that no US court has charged or convicted Tinubu of a criminal offence in the proceedings.

The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration have released hundreds of pages of records in connection with the litigation, while some portions remain redacted under provisions of US law protecting privacy, confidential sources, law-enforcement techniques and other sensitive information.

Omokri has previously cited a February 2003 US Embassy letter concerning an FBI records check on Tinubu. Reports on the document say the check returned no records of criminal arrests, outstanding warrants or wanted notices under the details supplied at the time.

However, the wider controversy has continued, with critics questioning the circumstances surrounding historical US records connected to Tinubu, including a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving about $460,000. The Presidency has maintained that the current litigation is about access to records and not a criminal prosecution.

Omokri, who was appointed by President Tinubu as Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico City, has remained vocal in defending the President against what he considers misleading descriptions of the FBI records. The State House’s official list of ambassadorial postings confirms his assignment to Mexico City.

The ambassador-designate said the central issue should be distinguished from the political narratives surrounding it, arguing that an FBI file and a criminal record are not synonymous.

The debate is expected to continue as proceedings over the disputed records move forward in the United States.

Author

Funmi Adewoju Suleodu

Olufunmilayo Adewoju Suleodu is a veteran journalist, editor, and publisher with more than three decades of experience in journalism, communications, and public affairs.

She has worked across news media, magazine publishing, communications, development-sector engagements, and digital journalism. She currently publishes SageBits Online and reports on governance, development, business, education, traditional institutions, and public affairs.

She is also an elected officer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun East Independent Chapel, reflecting her continued engagement with the journalism profession and media development.

Based in Ogun State, she is available for freelance reporting, feature writing, editorial assignments, research, project documentation, and development communications work.

Detailed professional history and references are available upon request.

View all posts

Previous post NNPC Begins Shift To Energy Hubs, Targets 70 Smart Fuel Station In Six Months

Next post Oil Price Rises Above $107 as Middle East Tensions Threaten Global Supply

Written by

Funmi Adewoju Suleodu

Olufunmilayo Adewoju Suleodu is a veteran journalist, editor, and publisher with more than three decades of experience in journalism, communications, and public affairs. She has worked across news media, magazine publishing, communications, development-sector engagements, and digital journalism. She currently publishes SageBits Online and reports on governance, development, business, education, traditional institutions, and public affairs. She is also an elected officer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun East Independent Chapel, reflecting her continued engagement with the journalism profession and media development. Based in Ogun State, she is available for freelance reporting, feature writing, editorial assignments, research, project documentation, and development communications work. Detailed professional history and references are available upon request.