A member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legal team in the United States, Wole Afolabi, has said the President would have been indicted, arrested and prosecuted if US authorities had substantive evidence linking him to drug trafficking.
Afolabi made the clarification while speaking on Channels Television on the ongoing legal dispute over the release of records relating to Tinubu held by the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The documents are the subject of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking access to records connected to Tinubu and previous investigations.
Afolabi said the decision by Tinubu’s legal team to challenge the release of certain redacted portions of the documents was based on rights guaranteed under US law and should not be interpreted as an attempt to conceal incriminating information.
He explained that the US government had already released thousands of pages of records but was seeking to retain some redactions to protect law enforcement methods, sources and personnel.
“This matter has been under discussion for a considerable period, and the DEA along with other agencies have provided documents to Mr Greenspan.
“Mr Greenspan is requesting the unredacted versions of these documents prior to their release. The operation of the legal system is based on established law rather than personal desire,” Afolabi said.
The lawyer maintained that Tinubu’s legal team was merely exercising its rights under American law.
“Therefore, our actions are fully compliant with legal provisions. Failing to utilise the rights available to us under the law would constitute professional malpractice,” he added.
Afolabi’s comments come amid continued public interest in the US records and allegations concerning Tinubu’s past activities in the United States.