Nigerians we’re in trouble: Atiku’s aide raises alarm amidst allegations of Tinubu’s active CIA asset spark national security concerns in Nigeria

In a recent statement on X, Paul Ibe, an aide to former Nigerian Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, highlighted a report by investigative journalist David Hundeyin of West Africa Weekly, claiming that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu may have connections with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These claims are prompting serious questions among Nigerians regarding the implications of having a sitting president allegedly associated with a foreign intelligence agency.

What is a CIA Asset?

According to intelligence terminology, an “asset” refers to a person within an organization or nation who provides intelligence to a foreign entity. Assets can be classified based on their motivations or circumstances, including:

1. Ideological motives: Individuals who align with the goals of a foreign government, sometimes because they oppose their own government.
2. Intergovernmental roles: Officials who unintentionally pass along valuable information to intelligence agencies.
3. Financial incentives: Individuals who exchange information for payment.
4. Compromised: Those forced to collaborate under blackmail or other pressure.
5. Unwitting assistance: People who may unknowingly provide information, often due to lapses in information security.

As speculation grows around Tinubu’s potential categorization, Nigerians are left wondering about the implications for national security and sovereignty.

Legal Battle Over Access to Tinubu’s Files

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case, initiated in 2022/2023 by Hundeyin, in collaboration with PlainSite founder Aaron Greenspan, aims to uncover additional information on Tinubu’s background by seeking unredacted government files. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), another party in the suit, has resisted full disclosure, stating that Nigerians do not have a right to the full details of their president’s background.

This legal case has reopened a longstanding controversy involving Tinubu’s past, including a 1993 forfeiture of $460,000 to the U.S. government after funds were allegedly linked to drug trafficking. These revelations have fueled recent challenges to Tinubu’s eligibility for Nigeria’s presidency, as the nation grapples with potential impacts on its sovereignty and trust in government.