US Court orders FBI, DEA to release records on President Tinubu’s drug trafficking case

A U.S. federal court has mandated the release of confidential files tied to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged connection to a drug trafficking and money laundering probe from the 1990s.

Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued the decision, criticizing the FBI and DEA for improperly withholding the documents. She rejected their use of a “Glomar response”—a refusal to confirm or deny the records’ existence—calling it “neither logical nor plausible.”

The case was brought forward by Aaron Greenspan under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), aiming to compel the FBI, DEA, and IRS to release records concerning Tinubu’s suspected ties to a heroin trafficking ring that operated out of Chicago in the early 1990s.

According to court filings, Tinubu was investigated by both the FBI and DEA for his alleged role in laundering money connected to the heroin trade. The documents also state that he forfeited $460,000 in 1993, believed to be linked to drug-related proceeds.

The court stressed the value of transparency, ruling that in this instance, the public’s right to access the information outweighs any privacy concerns.

Meanwhile, the CIA was excused from the order due to a lack of evidence showing it held any relevant documents.

Following the ruling, the FBI and DEA are required to revoke their Glomar responses and release the requested materials. A joint report from the agencies is due by May 2, 2025, to resolve any outstanding matters in the case.