The Nigerian presidency has dismissed the significance of a U.S. federal court order directing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records related to President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the documents contain no new revelations.
The ruling, issued on April 8, 2025, by Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, mandates the disclosure of non-exempt files tied to a 1990s investigation into alleged drug trafficking and money laundering involving Tinubu in Chicago.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated on April 13, 2025, that the records, including reports by FBI Agent Moss and DEA findings, have been publicly available for over three decades and do not implicate Tinubu. “There is nothing new to be revealed,” Onanuga said in a statement shared on X. “The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader.” He added that the presidency’s legal team is reviewing the court’s decision to determine its next steps.
The court order stems from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by Aaron Greenspan, an American citizen and founder of PlainSite, a platform promoting legal transparency. Greenspan challenged the FBI and DEA’s initial refusal to confirm or deny the existence of records linked to Tinubu, arguing that public interest in the Nigerian president’s past justified their release. Judge Howell’s ruling rejected the agencies’ claims that disclosure could harm national security or diplomatic relations, emphasizing transparency given Tinubu’s high-profile position.
The presidency’s response seeks to downplay the ruling’s impact, framing the documents as old news unlikely to affect Tinubu’s reputation. The 1993 case referenced in the records involved Tinubu forfeiting $460,000 to U.S. authorities, tied to funds allegedly connected to a Chicago-based heroin trafficking ring. While Tinubu was not criminally charged, the forfeiture has fueled speculation and criticism, particularly during his 2023 presidential campaign. The release of the documents, expected by early June 2025, may reignite debates about Tinubu’s past, though the presidency maintains they will reveal nothing incriminating.
