Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu is receiving medical treatment in France rather than merely observing the working vacation announced by the Presidency, while also linking the President’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York to what he described as fear of possible legal difficulties in the United States.
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Sowore made the claims in a post on X on Sunday, September 20, 2026, following the Presidency’s announcement that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA81.
The Presidency had earlier on Sunday confirmed that Shettima would head the Nigerian delegation to New York and deliver the country’s national statement during the General Debate.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Shettima will also participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements during the UN gathering.
Reacting to the development, Sowore alleged that Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend UNGA81 was connected to what he described as the President’s “mortal fear” that United States authorities could order his arrest in connection with a decades-old U.S. forfeiture case.
“There is something inherently wrong with Nigeria,” Sowore wrote.
He further alleged that Tinubu was receiving treatment in France and that the administration would subsequently present his return to Nigeria as the conclusion of an ordinary vacation.
“Tinubu is not on vacation; he is receiving treatment in France, and they will package him to return as though nothing happened,” Sowore alleged.
Sowore also compared what he described as secrecy surrounding the President’s trip with controversies that accompanied overseas medical treatment by former Nigerian presidents.
The activist did not provide medical records or other independently verifiable evidence in the post establishing that Tinubu is currently undergoing medical treatment in France.
The Presidency, for its part, has publicly described Tinubu’s European trip as part of his annual leave.
In an August 30 statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced that Tinubu was departing Abuja for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave, with London identified as his first destination.
The Presidency said the period would constitute a “working vacation” and that Tinubu was expected to return to Nigeria at its conclusion.
Subsequent official statements have placed Tinubu in Paris carrying out engagements during the vacation.
On September 18, the State House announced that French President Emmanuel Macron had received Tinubu for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace, describing the meeting as reflecting the relationship between Nigeria and France and efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The same day, the Presidency said Tinubu, “as part of his working vacation,” held talks in Paris with businessman Vincent Bolloré and executives of the Bolloré Group on expanding investments in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
Neither of those official statements said the President was receiving medical treatment.
Sowore’s second allegation concerns Tinubu’s historical encounter with United States authorities.
While Sowore described the matter as Tinubu’s “past drug-dealing case,” available court records require a more qualified description.
Authentic U.S. court documents relate to a 1993 civil forfeiture case in which Tinubu reached a settlement with the United States government and agreed to the forfeiture of $460,000 from accounts held in the United States.
However, the documents do not establish that Tinubu was indicted or convicted of a criminal offence in connection with the matter. AFP, which authenticated the documents with a journalist in the United States, reported that they did not show a criminal conviction or indictment against Tinubu.
Sowore nevertheless alleged that concern about the old U.S. matter was responsible for Tinubu’s decision not to travel to New York.
No evidence has been publicly produced establishing that United States authorities currently have an arrest warrant against Tinubu or that his attendance at UNGA81 would have resulted in his arrest.
A presidential aide has also dismissed suggestions that the President cannot travel to the United States because of the historical matter.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, said on Sunday that Tinubu had travelled through the United States in more recent times, citing a stay in Los Angeles on the way to Japan.
Osodi described arguments surrounding the President’s ability to enter the United States as political and maintained that Tinubu’s absence from UNGA would not diminish Nigeria’s international standing.
The controversy follows months of earlier indications that Tinubu would personally attend UNGA81.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, had announced in July that the President had agreed to participate personally in the General Assembly.
A provisional programme subsequently listed Tinubu among leaders expected to address the General Debate.
However, the Presidency confirmed on Sunday that Shettima would instead lead Nigeria’s delegation, ending speculation over whether Tinubu would travel to New York.
Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and outline the country’s positions on development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.
His representation also means that Tinubu will not personally attend the General Assembly for a third consecutive year after the Vice President represented him at the 79th session in 2024 and the 80th session in 2025.
Tinubu last personally addressed the United Nations General Assembly as President during the 78th session in New York in 2023.
Sowore’s comments have therefore added another dimension to the controversy over Tinubu’s absence from this year’s gathering, but his assertions that the President is presently undergoing medical treatment in France and fears arrest if he enters the United States remain allegations for which he has not publicly provided supporting evidence.
The Presidency’s stated position remains that Tinubu embarked on a three-week working vacation in Europe, while official State House records show him undertaking engagements in Paris during that period.
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