Reno Omokri, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, has said President Bola Tinubu has no criminal record, while arguing that FBI records involving other major presidential candidates are not necessarily evidence of criminal conduct.

Omokri made the statement in an X post on September 1, 2026, alongside a video in which he discussed the difference between an FBI file and a criminal record.

Omokri Explains FBI Records

In the roughly seven-minute video, Omokri said the existence of an FBI record does not by itself mean that an individual has been arrested, convicted or wanted for a crime.

He argued that FBI records can contain information obtained through various processes, including background checks and other routine interactions with US authorities.

“President Tinubu Has No Criminal Record. All The Major Presidential Candidates Have FBI Records, Including Atiku and Peter Obi, and Those Records Are Not Necessarily Criminal,” Omokri wrote in the post.

Tinubu Records Under Public Scrutiny

His comments come amid renewed attention to US records connected to Tinubu following Freedom of Information Act requests involving the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

The records relate partly to allegations and events dating back to the 1990s, including a 1993 civil forfeiture involving about $460,000. The existence of such records does not, by itself, establish that Tinubu has a criminal conviction.

Omokri has previously referred to a February 2003 communication from the US Embassy following a query by then-Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun. He has said the communication indicated that there were no criminal arrest records, warrants or wanted notices for Tinubu at the time.

Atiku, Peter Obi Also Mentioned

Omokri extended the argument to other leading political figures, saying Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi also have FBI records.

He maintained that having a file or record with a federal agency should not automatically be interpreted as proof of criminal activity, urging a distinction between agency records and actual criminal convictions.

The issue has become increasingly prominent as political arguments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with supporters and critics of different candidates interpreting references to US government records differently.

Claims Draw Mixed Reactions

Omokri’s latest remarks have generated reactions on social media, with some users supporting his distinction between FBI files and criminal records while others called for the release and examination of the underlying records.

There was no immediate new statement from the FBI specifically confirming or disputing Omokri’s latest comments.