Former presidential aide and ambassador-designate to Mexico, Mr. Reno Omokri, has refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu has a criminal record with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Mr Omokri made the clarification while speaking on the City Boy Movement Podcast, anchored by O’tega Ogra, on Tuesday.
He said the existence of an FBI record did not necessarily mean that the person involved had a criminal record.
“There is no criminal FBI record against President Bola Tinubu. There’s nothing like that.
“A record is just that, a record. There is a difference between a record and a criminal record,” he said.
Mr Omokri said his position was based on an FBI record check conducted following a request by the Nigeria Police Force under former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
According to him, the result of the check was negative for any criminal arrest records, warrants or wanted status involving Mr Tinubu.
“So, there is no criminal FBI record against the President,” he said.
The ambassador-designate also said documents currently being discussed publicly by an opposition candidate originated from an earlier investigation and did not represent a new criminal case against the President.
“There is no 2026 case. What happened is that a gentleman filed a Freedom of Information Act request.
“This is not a new case; it relates to a 1993 investigation,” he said.
Mr Omokri said his current position on Mr Tinubu had been shaped by personal investigations and his willingness to change his views when presented with verifiable evidence.
He recalled travelling to the United States to investigate allegations surrounding Mr Tinubu’s educational background, saying the evidence he obtained changed his earlier perception of the President.
“I went to Chicago State University with a witness who is still a supporter of Atiku Abubakar.
“I was given incontrovertible evidence that Tinubu attended the school,” he said.
The former presidential aide also said certified documents relating to Mr Tinubu’s civil forfeiture case had convinced him that some of his previous assertions about the President were incorrect.
“I was able to get certified true copies of these documents, and they established beyond reasonable doubt that I was wrong.
“This man was not who I thought he was,” he said.
Mr Omokri maintained that his defence of Mr Tinubu was based on what he considered to be the truth and was not motivated by his appointment as ambassador-designate.
“I think that I will defend the truth, whether or not I’m an ambassador or anything.
“Before the President appointed me, I was defending the truth,” he said.
Tinubu’s economic reforms
While speaking on the administration’s economic policies, Mr Omokri said some of the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration were policies that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also promised during the 2023 presidential campaign.
“If you read or listen to his speech at Chatham House, all of the things that we said we were going to do in the PDP are the things that the President is doing,” he said.
According to him, the policies included the removal of petrol subsidy, floating of the naira, devolution of powers from the Federal Government to states and local governments, and the introduction of student loans.
“We said we were going to remove subsidies, float the naira, devolve power from the Federal Government to states and local governments, and finally give student loans,” he said.
Defending the removal of petrol subsidy, Mr Omokri argued that returning to the policy would place unsustainable financial pressure on Nigeria.
“If you bring back fuel subsidy, you are not going to be subsidising Nigeria. You’re going to be subsidising West Africa, and that will destroy our economy,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to assess the Tinubu administration based on measurable outcomes rather than political sentiments.
“I’m not an emotional person. I’m a fact-driven person, and I believe Nigerians should also become more fact-driven,” he said.
Mr Omokri further clarified that his support for Mr Tinubu did not amount to abandoning his principles, saying truth, patriotism and Nigeria’s development remained his priorities.
“I love this country passionately. If I die today or tomorrow, whenever I die, I want to be known as a patriot,” he said.
