The meeting was confirmed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The details of the discussion were not immediately made public at the time of filing this report.

More details are expected to follow.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa.

According to the statement, Lele died in the early hours of April 19, 2026, in Ankara, Türkiye, following a prolonged illness.

The ministry described the late diplomat as a dedicated public servant, noting that until his death he served as Director of the Middle East and Gulf Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It further stated that he had recently been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Ambassador-designate to Algeria, following Senate confirmation.

Born in Gamawa, Bauchi State, in 1976, Lele studied Economics at Bayero University, Kano. He had previously served in several Nigerian diplomatic missions, including Berlin, Lomé, and Riyadh.

The ministry praised him as an officer known for his intellectual depth, strategic insight, and commitment to advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy goals.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, who received his remains at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, described him as “a hardworking, humble and fine officer who will be sorely missed.”

Lele was laid to rest on Wednesday in Kano according to Islamic rites.

The ministry described his death as a significant loss to his family, the Foreign Service, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Federal Government extended condolences to his family, associates, and the people of Bauchi State, praying for the repose of his soul and strength for those he left behind.

The Ivory Coast winger joined Arsenal in 2019 for a club-record fee of £72.5 million but struggled to fully establish himself. He scored 27 goals in 112 appearances before falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta as the squad underwent restructuring.

Pepe believes that limited communication with Arteta was a major challenge during his spell in England, contrasting it with his current relationship with Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral.

Speaking to Flashscore, he said: “First, it’s different. These two managers are really different.

“We’ll start with Arteta, who is a coach who asks for certain things. Sometimes it was a bit tough for me, where from time to time we didn’t have this communication. And that’s what I regret the most, not having enough communication with him.

“Then with coach Marcelino, it’s the opposite, where I think we talk about everything, about nothing, football, not football, whatever.

“I always say that I prefer a coach who is totally transparent with me, whether it’s the right or the wrong side. It allows me to move forward and progress.”

Now 30, Pepe has regained form in Spain, registering five goals and four assists in 29 La Liga appearances this season. He says the style of football in Spain suits him better.

He added: “It’s totally different in terms of intensity of play. In the Premier League, we were very much focused on the intensity whereas in Spain we are more relaxed. The idea of playing is to play the ball.

“With stadiums in England, I think there are no better ones. You can go to the third or fourth division, you will have stadiums that are filled with incredible atmosphere.

“In Spain, too, there’s atmosphere, but it’s totally different. So I think it’s two different leagues, but they are at a very high level.”