U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, appointed by President Donald Trump, has initiated action in federal court to comply with court orders concerning the release of Justice Department, FBI and DEA records related to drug trafficking and money laundering allegations involving Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The development was announced by Von Batten Montague York, L.C. in a statement posted on X. The firm welcomed what it described as a renewed effort by Pirro and the Justice Department to release the records.
According to the statement, Pirro requested an additional 10 days to address the records. Judge Beryl Howell granted only four additional days, setting August 21 as the deadline and noting that the case has already been pending for more than three years.
The records have been the subject of a long running legal battle. Under the Joe Biden administration, Nigerians had for years demanded the release of the files. They argued that the public deserves to see the underlying FBI, DEA and Justice Department records so the allegations can be examined directly rather than through competing political claims.
The records are connected to a U.S. investigation dating back to the early 1990s involving a heroin trafficking operation in the Chicago area and financial transactions allegedly linked to drug proceeds.
U.S. investigators examined a group led by Adegboyega Mueez Akande, with Abiodun Agbele identified as an associate who sold heroin and later cooperated with U.S. authorities after his arrest.
Court papers and an affidavit from IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss stated that investigators believed large sums connected to the heroin trade had entered bank accounts controlled by Tinubu.
At the time, Tinubu worked for Mobil Oil Nigeria and reported earning about $2,400 a month. Investigators examined bank records showing that $661,000 was placed into a money market account in his name in 1990, followed by more than $1.2 million the following year.
U.S. authorities later froze more than $1.4 million held in accounts at First Heritage Bank and Citibank in Tinubu’s name.
In 1993, the U.S. government filed a civil forfeiture case seeking the funds, alleging that they were proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in money laundering.
Tinubu was not criminally charged or convicted in the case. He settled the civil matter and agreed to forfeit $460,000. A federal judge ordered the amount forfeited to the United States, while the remaining funds were returned.
The allegations have remained the subject of public and legal debate for decades, particularly over the release of the underlying FBI, DEA and Justice Department records.
Von Batten Montague York said it deeply appreciates Pirro and the Justice Department’s renewed motivation to release the documents. The firm also agreed with Judge Howell that the case has been pending for more than three years and that the time has come for the Tinubu drug trafficking and money laundering files to be released.
The firm further argued that shared interests between the United States and Nigeria should not mean supporting someone facing long standing allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering, citing a position it linked to President Trump.
The latest court action puts August 21 at the center of the dispute as the deadline set by Judge Howell approaches and pressure builds for the U.S. government to release the records.
Media and press inquiries can be directed to Renee Hamilton at Renee.hamilton@montagueyork.com.
