Nigerians at home and abroad are speaking out on social media calling for President Donald Trump and the FBI to release full records from a decades old US investigation into alleged heroin trafficking tied to Bola Tinubu. The calls come as a US court continues pressing federal agencies to process and share the files under freedom of information rules. Many say people die every day from insecurity poverty and violence under Tinubu yet the FBI focuses on possible risk to him if the files come out.
The records stem from a late 1980s and early 1990s probe in the Chicago area. US investigators looked into a heroin network. They said proceeds from the operation went into bank accounts that Tinubu owned or controlled. In 1993 a federal court ordered the forfeiture of about 460000 dollars from one of those accounts. The action was civil and aimed at the money itself. Tinubu was never arrested charged or convicted of any drug crime. He has long denied any wrongdoing and described the matter as a civil case only.
American activist Aaron Greenspan filed multiple freedom of information requests in 2022 and 2023 seeking the full FBI DEA and related files on Tinubu and others named in the old probe. Under the previous US administration the agencies largely refused to confirm or deny the records existed. In 2025 US District Judge Beryl Howell ordered the FBI and DEA to search for and process the materials. The judge later said claims that the information must stay secret were neither logical nor plausible once public acknowledgments of the investigation became clear.
The case remains active in 2026. Recent court filings show the FBI asking for permission to submit private explanations to the judge about why some material should stay withheld. The agency says full public release could reveal law enforcement methods or put people at risk. Tinubu’s legal team has joined requests for more time to respond. Deadlines have been set for late August.
A Washington lobbying firm called Von Batten Montague York linked to former Nigerian vice president Atiku Abubakar has been active on the issue. The firm has shared more than 60 pages of old Justice Department documents with members of the Trump administration Congress and senior staff. It has publicly urged the current US government not to protect foreign leaders accused of links to drugs brought into America. The firm also plans talks with anti drug groups religious leaders and families affected by heroin.
On social media users post sharp reactions. Stephen Ib asked if the FBI would take the same position if Tinubu were contesting the US presidency. Mr. Papito said if the FBI is finding it hard to release Tinubu’s files why did they arrest Maduro and what is the point of flying into Venezuela to arrest a sitting president over alleged drug involvement while covering for another. Manjul Vic called Tinubu a security risk to Nigeria. Mike Arnold wondered who Tinubu might have informed on back in 1993 that remains so dangerous even today.
Dele Farotimi said people who expect America to release their man’s criminal record are fools because America is a principal beneficiary of Nigeria’s ruination and no American regime Democrat or Conservative cares about Nigerians. Harry Da Diegot told the CIA all they are saying is release Tinubu’s files. Arch. Afemeke told the FBI if releasing his file will endanger his life take him in and keep him in protective custody before releasing the file and just release the file because Nigerians have the right to know.
SIZWE BANSI said the FBI and Trump are actually very corrupt which is why they hide the Epstein files and asked how they complain of mass immigration yet protect a drug dealer ruling and making lives miserable for people in Africa’s most populated country. Stanley Tommy claimed Bola Ahmed Tinubu is looting Nigeria’s treasury to pay America’s FBI to cover up his drug case files and that Nigerians need a man with integrity to lead them not a criminal with too many skeletons in his cupboard.
Anthony Abakporo said if the FBI failed to release the whole Tinubu’s case file with their seal on it let the world know that America is committing crime against humanity in Nigeria worse than the Christian genocide they claimed to be against otherwise release those files or treat him like Hushpuppi and other Nigerian criminals. Dr. Kenon said he really feels so embarrassed about this case and that Nigeria does not deserve this destruction imposed on us because Tinubu is obviously a foreign asset and if not why protect him at the expense of the entire country.
EazyLife said enough said what is good for Maduro is good for Bola. Raymond said ultimately we agree there is a record and a damning one at that and this realisation alone should make a person like this ineligible for office adding that no one in the last three years has put such a bad and ugly image on Nigeria than the president with a drug related background. Dr. Kenon added it is very pathetic that Nigeria is facing such and asked why such a person should continue as the president of Nigeria.
Users also say Tinubu has abused the country constitution and its secular state by the Muslim Muslim ticket yet the Trump administration always talks about Christians being killed while protecting what they call an unfit failed leader who has caused the country deep harm. They contrast the delay with the pursuit of Pablo Escobar the arrest of the Venezuelan president and other Nigerians held for drug offences and ask why Tinubu alone gets the same protection they say the Biden team once hidden the records.
Nigerian newspapers cover every development which then fuels more online talk. The old case has long been a point of political contention in Nigeria. Opponents raise it during elections and legal challenges. Supporters call it old news that was settled years ago and say Tinubu has a clean record on the criminal side. No final set of unredacted records has been released to the public yet. The court process continues and Von Batten Montague York keeps pressing officials in Washington while everyday Nigerians keep asking for the documents to be opened.
