A U.S. federal court has issued a landmark ruling ordering the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records tied to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, concerning allegations of heroin trafficking and money laundering from a 1990s investigation in Chicago.
The decision, handed down on April 10, 2025, follows a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by Aaron Greenspan, an American citizen and founder of PlainSite, a legal transparency initiative.
Greenspan sought access to documents that could clarify Tinubu’s involvement in illicit activities during the early 1990s, a period that has long cast a shadow over his political career.
The court’s ruling dismissed objections from the FBI and DEA, which had argued that disclosing the records could jeopardize national security and strain diplomatic relations with Nigeria, a key U.S. ally in Africa. Judge, presiding over the case, emphasized the public’s right to transparency, particularly given Tinubu’s position as the leader of Africa’s most populous nation and the serious nature of the allegations. The court found that the agencies failed to provide sufficient evidence to withhold the documents, ordering their release within 60 days, with redactions permitted only for sensitive personal information unrelated to the core allegations.
The lawsuit centers on a 1993 case in which Tinubu forfeited $460,000 to U.S. authorities after funds in his bank accounts were linked to narcotics trafficking. Court documents from that period alleged that Tinubu’s accounts at First Heritage Bank and Citibank were used to launder proceeds from heroin deals orchestrated by a Chicago-based drug ring. While Tinubu was not criminally charged, the forfeiture agreement fueled speculation about his ties to organized crime, a controversy that resurfaced during his 2023 presidential campaign in Nigeria. Critics, including opposition parties, cited the case to question his fitness for office, while supporters dismissed it as a politically motivated smear.
Greenspan’s FOIA request, filed in 2023, sought detailed records from the FBI and DEA, including investigative reports, witness statements, and correspondence related to Tinubu’s activities in Chicago. The plaintiff argued that the public interest in understanding the background of a sitting head of state outweighed the agencies’ concerns. The court agreed, noting that Tinubu’s rise to power amplified the need for accountability, especially in light of Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with corruption and drug trafficking.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), also named in the lawsuit, was granted relief after demonstrating it held no responsive records. The court found no evidence that the CIA was involved in the original investigation or maintained files on Tinubu relevant to the case.
This ruling has reignited fierce debate in Nigeria, where Tinubu’s past remains a polarizing topic. Social media platforms, particularly X, have seen an outpouring of reactions, with hashtags like #TinubuRecords and #ChicagoFiles trending. Some Nigerians view the decision as a step toward transparency, while others argue it risks destabilizing the country’s leadership at a time of economic and security challenges. Political analysts predict the release of the documents—expected by mid-June 2025—could have far-reaching implications for Tinubu’s presidency and Nigeria’s international relations.
The forthcoming records are anticipated to provide a clearer picture of Tinubu’s alleged role in the heroin trade and money laundering scheme, including the extent of his financial dealings and connections to other figures in the case. Whether the documents will confirm or refute the allegations remains uncertain, but their release marks a significant moment in the intersection of U.S. legal transparency and Nigerian politics.
