This followed a ruling by a Washington DC judge directing the two agencies to release non-exempt files linked to past investigations involving Tinubu.
The report said a U.S Federal Court in the District of Columbia has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records detailing investigations into alleged international drug trafficking and money laundering activities linked to President Bola Tinubu and others.
The directive followed a lawsuit filed by American transparency advocate and founder of PlainSite.org, Aaron Greenspan, who sought the disclosure of documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In her ruling on Tuesday, Judge Beryl Howell held that the public interest in uncovering the extent of President Tinubu’s alleged ties to a 1990s heroin trafficking ring outweighed any claims of privacy that had been previously asserted by U.S. authorities.
According to court filings, Greenspan had in 2023 sued multiple U.S. federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of State, and the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA). The suit alleged that these agencies were unlawfully withholding documents related to an investigation into a heroin network reportedly operating in Chicago and involving Nigerian nationals.
Among those named alongside Tinubu in the alleged drug ring were Abiodun Agbele, Mueez Akande, and Lee Andrew Edwards.
Greenspan referenced a 1993 forfeiture suit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice seeking to confiscate $460,000 linked to Tinubu, which authorities at the time believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking.
At the centre of Greenspan’s legal demand is an affidavit sworn by IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss, who had outlined how funds traced to Tinubu were allegedly connected to narcotics proceeds and laundered through various financial institutions.
“There is probable cause to believe that funds in certain bank accounts controlled by Bola Tinubu were involved in financial transactions in violation of U.S. laws and represent proceeds of drug trafficking,” Moss had stated in the affidavit.
President Tinubu, through legal representatives, had in October 2023 opposed the release of certain materials, citing concerns about privacy and the disclosure of confidential tax information.
However, Judge Howell dismissed those arguments, ruling that such claims were insufficient to justify continued secrecy.
Judge Howell stated, “The public interest in learning about a sitting president’s possible connection to a major drug investigation is undeniably significant.
“The claim that the Glomar responses were necessary to protect this information from public disclosure is at this point neither logical nor plausible.”
Reacting to the judgement, Greenspan maintained that openness must take precedence over concealment, especially where public officials are involved.
“Transparency must prevail over secrecy when it comes to public officials. The American public, as well as Nigerians, deserve to know the truth,” he said in a statement.
The court’s decision is expected to heighten scrutiny over Tinubu’s past financial dealings and rekindle international interest in a long-standing controversy that had previously drawn attention during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election cycle.
Responding to media inquiries on Sunday, a presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the reports in question have been in public for over 30 years and did not indict the Nigerian leader.
“Journalists have sought the Presidency’s reaction to the ruling last Tuesday by a Washington DC judge ordering the US FBI and DEA to release reports connected with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Onanuga wrote in a social media post on Sunday.
“The report by Agent Moss of the FBI and the DEA report have been in the public space for more than 30 years.
“The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader.”
