Omokri Alleges FBI Has No Criminal Record For Tinubu

Nigeria's ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, recently provided extensive insights into the country's political landscape, focusing on President Bola Tinubu and the anticipated 2027 general election. Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend's JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, Omokri addressed the notable shift in his political alignment, moving from a strong opponent of President Tinubu before the 2023 election to a vocal defender and supporter for the upcoming 2027 polls.

Omokri explained that his change in position is rooted in a commitment to being fact-driven rather than emotional. He recounted believing certain media reports about President Tinubu prior to the 2023 election. However, driven by natural curiosity, he undertook personal investigations into these allegations. This included a trip to Chicago, documented with a witness, to examine claims regarding President Tinubu's attendance and graduation from Chicago State University. Omokri stated that he was presented with evidence confirming Tinubu's graduation. Upon establishing this fact, he publicly declared his findings, even though it ran counter to his political interests at the time. He further investigated the civil forfeiture case, examining court documents and obtaining certified true copies, which led him to conclude that some of his previous beliefs were incorrect. He asserted that his position changed when the evidence did, emphasizing that his ambassadorship appointment did not influence his defense of President Tinubu, as he had already been defending fact-supported positions before the appointment.

Addressing the contentious issue of President Tinubu's FBI records, Omokri categorically stated that the FBI’s records contain no criminal information against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He clarified a critical distinction often misunderstood by the public: the difference between having an "FBI record" and possessing a "criminal record." An FBI record, he explained, is merely a record that can result from various interactions such as visa applications, background checks, or other processes requiring FBI scrutiny. He accused the prevalent narrative of intending to confuse Nigerians into equating an FBI record with a criminal one. Omokri cited a document from the FBI, conveyed through the American Embassy, which confirmed a negative result for criminal arrest records and warrants concerning Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following a check through the FBI’s National Crime Information Centre. He further elaborated that President Tinubu's resistance to releasing his entire FBI file stems from the fact that such files can contain highly sensitive personal information, including biometric data like fingerprints, which individuals typically prefer to keep private, rather than indicating criminality.

Omokri also touched upon his previous close working relationship with Atiku Abubakar, dispelling notions of a quarrel. He maintained that Waziri Atiku Abubakar remains his friend and someone he respects, illustrating that political disagreements do not necessarily translate into personal enmity. Despite public attacks from some of Atiku's associates, Omokri stated he did not allow such incidents to damage their relationship. However, when asked if he would rejoin Atiku's campaign, Omokri affirmed that while there is nothing personal to reconcile, he could not work on the campaign due to fundamental policy differences. He specifically cited his strong conviction against fuel subsidies.

Elaborating on economic policies, Omokri drew a comparison between President Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, suggesting they are "almost like Siamese twins" in their economic outlooks. He highlighted their similar political roots and historical support for free-market economic policies. Omokri, who worked closely with Atiku and wrote his Chatham House speech, revealed that the four major policies envisioned during Atiku’s 2023 presidential campaign – removing fuel subsidies, floating the naira, devolving more powers to states and local governments, and introducing student loans – are substantially the same policies President Tinubu is implementing today. He posited that opposition to these policies, simply because Tinubu is executing them, might be more personal than ideological.

Omokri also voiced his opposition to Atiku’s proposal to subsidize fuel or crude oil production. He expressed concern that Atiku Abubakar might not be fully informed on certain issues, noting that despite Atiku's intelligence, mistakes can occur with incomplete information. Omokri pointed out that Nigeria already has mechanisms to support local refining, such as the naira-for-crude arrangement, under which millions of barrels have been allocated. He further cited Atiku's proposals to reopen borders, which are already open, and to directly fund local governments, which he believes overlooks significant legal and policy developments concerning local government financial autonomy, as examples where Atiku may be receiving inaccurate information from those around him.

Reaffirming the ideological basis of his disagreements with Atiku’s recent proposals, Omokri, a lifelong proponent of free-market policies, emphasized consistency in his political life. He suggested that while politicians might make campaign promises to appeal to voters, their long-term records are a more reliable indicator of their true principles. Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election, Omokri expressed skepticism about the opposition uniting behind a single candidate, citing the strong ambitions and egos of leading figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar. He believes such an alliance is "dead on arrival." Consequently, based on President Tinubu's 2023 victory despite challenges and his current broader political support, Omokri confidently predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election, suggesting the opposition is preparing for another four years outside of power.