Atiku has questioned Tinubu’s third consecutive absence from UNGA, asking if his past U.S. legal history has affected diplomatic relations.

The Presidency announced on Sunday that Vice President Kashim Shettima would lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku noted that Shettima also represented Tinubu at the 79th and 80th sessions of the UNGA in 2024 and 2025.

He argued that while the Vice President could represent Nigeria, repeated presidential absence from one of the world’s major diplomatic gatherings could limit opportunities for direct engagement with other world leaders, investors and international institutions.

Atiku also questioned reports that Nigeria had spent up to $9 million on American lobbyists, asking what Nigerians had gained from the expenditure while Tinubu remained absent from the UN gathering in New York.

The former vice president further raised questions about Tinubu’s past legal history in the United States, referencing a 1993 forfeiture case in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois involving funds held in accounts linked to Tinubu and associated companies.

Atiku cited court records concerning the forfeiture of approximately $460,000, while acknowledging that he was not claiming Tinubu was legally barred from entering the United States.

He asked the Presidency to clarify whether there was any legal, diplomatic, medical or personal reason for the President’s repeated absence from the UNGA.

Atiku also questioned whether the President’s past US legal controversies had affected Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Washington.

He said Nigerians were entitled to an explanation if there was an impediment to Tinubu’s attendance, arguing that the country’s diplomatic and economic interests should remain separate from the President’s personal history.