Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name became connected to an FBI investigation, insisting that the President was not the subject of the probe.

Omokri spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday as controversy over United States records linked to a 1990s investigation resurfaced.

According to him, the investigation involved people connected to funds that Tinubu, who was working as an accountant at the time, held on behalf of clients.

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“There was an investigation. Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not the subject of that investigation,” Omokri said.

He said the controversy had been driven by what he described as a misleading interpretation of Tinubu’s connection to funds that came under scrutiny by American authorities.

Omokri explained that the individuals connected to the funds had been indicted by the FBI and that some of the money was subsequently identified as suspicious.

“The President was an accountant, and then the President had client funds. Those persons had been indicted by the FBI, and as a result of that, it said that certain funds… are suspicious funds,” he said.

He added that when the issue was brought to Tinubu’s attention, the then-accountant agreed to the forfeiture of the funds.

“And then when it was brought to the attention of the President, the President agreed for a forfeiture. Now, it was to the accounts, not the President.”

Omokri reiterated that the existence of an FBI investigation could not be disputed, but maintained that Tinubu himself was not the person being investigated.

“There was an investigation. Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not the subject of that investigation,” he said.

Omokri cites 2003 FBI document

The ambassador-designate also referred to a 2003 FBI document which he said contained the outcome of checks conducted on Tinubu.

According to Omokri, the document showed that there was no criminal arrest record or outstanding warrant against the President.

He, however, declined to disclose the identities of the individuals who were investigated, saying he was unwilling to expose their families to unnecessary consequences.

Renewed controversy over US records
The latest comments come amid renewed debate over US records connected to the 1990s investigation and ongoing legal proceedings seeking access to documents held by American law-enforcement agencies.

The dispute includes 399 pages of records identified in Freedom of Information Act proceedings, with some of the documents reportedly redacted or withheld.

Omokri declined to comment on the contents of the documents, citing the pending court case.

He also argued against releasing potentially sensitive information contained in the records, saying such material could include biometric, familial and financial details.

According to him, releasing such information could provide political opponents with material that might be misused against the President.

“You don’t want those records in the hands of your enemies,” he said.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has broken its silence on the controversy surrounding Nigerians detained in India, saying the Nigerian High Commission in the country has been actively attending to their cases.

The commission also addressed the case of Ekene, a Nigerian whose detention in India recently sparked a public exchange between broadcaster Rufai Oseni and NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on X.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, NiDCOM said officials of the Nigerian High Commission in India had, as of September 1, visited 198 inmates across five prisons in Maharashtra, Mumbai.

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The commission said there were still more Nigerians in prisons in other provinces of India.

NiDCOM also disclosed that the Nigerian High Commission had secured amnesty for thousands of Nigerians detained in Indian prisons between September last year and May this year.

According to the commission, the amnesty mainly covered Nigerians detained for immigration offences and other irregularities.

“They have been released and returned home but some did not take advantage of the amnesty as at the time it was given,” the statement said.

NiDCOM added that Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, had been engaging her Indian counterpart over another six-month amnesty for Nigerians who have no pending trials but remain in detention camps over various offences or immigration-related irregularities.

On Ekene’s case, the commission said the Nigerian High Commission in India would investigate his situation and determine whether he qualifies for an early release.

“In the case of the Mr Ekene being mentioned in India, the Nigerian High Commission in India would look into his matter and if he is one of those that can leave as soon as possible, he will, if his family can raise funds for him. But there are processes to be followed,” NiDCOM said.

The commission maintained that the Nigerian High Commission was already handling Ekene’s case alongside those of other Nigerians in similar circumstances.

It also said the diplomatic mission had been putting pressure on the Indian government to expedite the cases of Nigerians awaiting trial for various offences.

The development comes after Oseni accused NiDCOM of failing to act promptly after he forwarded information about Ekene’s situation to the commission.

Oseni had claimed that NiDCOM received his email on Monday but did not respond until 7:59am on Sunday, after he publicly raised the matter on X.

He accused the commission of inefficiency and questioned what could have happened to Ekene during the period he said his correspondence went unanswered.

Dabiri-Erewa subsequently responded that Oseni had been asked to send the relevant details to NiDCOM’s official email and that further updates would be provided through the commission’s official channels.

She also said she had blocked Oseni on X, describing the platform as having become “a very toxic space.”

Oseni later rejected her explanation, accusing the NiDCOM chairman of misrepresenting the timing of the commission’s response and challenging her to publish the timestamp of the email.

However, in its latest statement, NiDCOM sought to highlight the broader efforts of the Nigerian government and its diplomatic mission in India, including prison visits, previous amnesty arrangements and ongoing negotiations for another amnesty.

The commission urged Nigerians living irregularly in India to take advantage of any new amnesty once it is effected, warning that those who remain in the country illegally risk arrest.

Dabiri-Erewa also clarified that the amnesty would not cover Nigerians awaiting trial for criminal offences such as drug-related cases.

NiDCOM appealed to Nigerians living abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and avoid activities that could lead to their arrest or prosecution.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the BRICS 2026 Summit in New Delhi, India, with both countries committing to significantly improve trade and economic cooperation across major sectors.

The development was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Office of the Vice President.

The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria-India relations and expanding cooperation in areas including oil, renewable energy, defence, power, capacity building, technology, health and clean energy.

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Prime Minister Modi specifically thanked Nigeria for protecting and peacefully hosting about 80,000 Indians living in Nigeria, while also making a case for renewed crude oil purchases from Nigeria.

Modi said increased crude oil purchases from Nigeria would help boost trade between the two countries, noting that bilateral trade had declined to about $9 billion annually, from approximately $14 billion in previous years.

The Indian Prime Minister’s call for renewed crude purchases formed part of broader discussions on strengthening economic ties between both countries.

In response, Vice President Shettima promised to look into the request, while emphasising the importance of strategic partnerships that are vital to Nigeria’s economic development.

Shettima particularly highlighted the pharmaceutical, defence, creative and digital technology sectors as areas where Nigeria seeks stronger partnerships and investment.

According to Shettima, President Bola Tinubu is keen on developing these industries to benefit millions of Nigerian youths through foreign investments and strategic partnerships.

The Vice President’s position underscores the Federal Government’s push to attract foreign investment and build partnerships that can expand opportunities for young Nigerians while strengthening key sectors of the economy.

The two countries also committed to drastically improving trade across major economic sectors, including oil, renewable energy, defence, power, capacity building, technology, health and clean energy.