The Nigerian Presidency has reacted to a U.S. court order compelling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release documents linked to past investigations involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, addressing the matter on social media, downplayed the ruling, stating:
“There is nothing new to reveal. The FBI and DEA reports have been in the public space for over 30 years and do not indict President Tinubu.”
However, Onanuga noted that legal experts within the Presidency are reviewing the decision.
The ruling, issued by Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, followed a lawsuit filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by American activist Aaron Greenspan. Greenspan had accused multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies of failing to release investigative records relating to Tinubu and four others allegedly connected to a 1990s heroin trafficking ring in Chicago.
The FBI, DEA, IRS, CIA, and Department of State initially issued what are known as Glomar responses, declining to confirm or deny the existence of relevant files.
Judge Howell found these responses by the FBI and DEA to be improper and ordered them lifted.
Greenspan’s filings included a 1993 affidavit by IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss, which formed the basis of a civil forfeiture case.
The documents indicated that President Tinubu voluntarily forfeited $460,000 to U.S. authorities after the funds were linked to narcotics proceeds. Though no criminal charges were filed, the forfeiture became a point of contention during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.
Opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi cited the forfeiture in their legal challenges, but Nigeria’s Presidential Election Petition Tribunal upheld Tinubu’s victory.
Judge Howell ruled that the public interest outweighs any privacy concerns and criticized the agencies for failing to justify continued secrecy. The CIA, however, was allowed to maintain its position, as there was no proof it had acknowledged the existence of related records.
A joint report from the involved agencies—excluding the CIA—is expected by May 2, 2025, to determine next steps in the case.
Despite the renewed scrutiny, Tinubu has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintains that he was never indicted or prosecuted in relation to the forfeiture.