Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has revealed details of his trip to Peru to investigate allegations linking Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to drug trafficking.

Omokri made the disclosure in a statement shared on X on Wednesday while responding to allegations made by former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo that Obi was involved in drug trafficking activities linked to a woman imprisoned in Peru.

According to him, his findings showed that the allegations against Obi were false after he visited a women’s prison in Lima and met with authorities in Peru during the investigation.

He explained that the trip to Peru came shortly after he travelled to the United States in September 2022 to verify the academic records of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Chicago State University.

Omokri stated that, despite the findings being against his political interests at the time, he publicly released videos, documents and statements confirming that Tinubu attended and graduated from the institution.

He added that after concluding his investigation in Chicago, he proceeded to Peru to probe allegations that Obi sponsored a female drug courier who was later arrested and allegedly implicated him during trial proceedings.

According to him, he visited the prison facility in Lima with a witness and also interacted with authorities in the South American country while carrying out the investigation.

Omokri further stated that he later contacted Dokubo and advised him to stop repeating the allegations because there was no evidence to support them.

He also urged political actors ahead of the 2027 election to avoid recycling claims he said had already been debunked.

Omokri maintained that he personally funded the investigations out of what he described as patriotism and commitment to justice.

The statement partly reads, “I proceeded to Peru to investigate this claim you just made against Peter Obi. I went to the women’s prison in Lima, Peru, with a witness who is still alive and a video camera. I also visited authorities in that country, and confirmed that the story that Peter Obi is a drug baron who sponsored a female drug mule to Peru, and that the girl was arrested, tried, and implicated him during her trial is false. I also granted an interview to Arise TV right from Cusco, Peru. This was on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.

“I thereafter called you on the phone and told you not to make the allegation anymore, because it was not true, and it is morally wrong to accuse a man of a crime he is innocent of. You may recall that you agreed with me.

“As we approach the 2027 election, please can we all refrain from recycling these allegations, which I have already debunked.

“I spent my money and time to establish the facts. Nobody gave me a dime. I did this because of patriotism and commitment to justice, even when it is against my political interests. So it is rather disconcerting to see these allegations being recycled.” (Nigerian Tribune, excluding headline)