A United States federal court has granted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) permission to submit sensitive records linked to a long-running Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for private judicial review.
The development is part of a legal battle over records sought by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan concerning historical U.S. investigations involving Tinubu, including records held by the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to reports on the latest proceedings, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell allowed the FBI to provide certain information to the court ex parte and in camera—meaning the judge can examine the material privately rather than having it immediately placed on the public court record.
The FBI had asked the court for permission to submit a confidential declaration explaining why some of the requested records should remain protected from public disclosure.
The dispute stems from FOIA requests filed by Greenspan seeking, among other materials, the FBI’s records concerning Tinubu and interview records allegedly connected to an FBI case from the early 1990s.
The case gained renewed attention after Judge Howell ruled in April 2025 that the FBI and DEA could no longer rely on a so-called Glomar response to refuse to confirm or deny the existence of records relating to Tinubu. The judge found that the agencies had not established sufficient grounds to maintain that position.
The current proceedings, however, concern the FBI’s request to explain privately why certain information should not be released. An in-camera review allows a judge to examine disputed material confidentially and determine whether it falls within exemptions under U.S. freedom-of-information law.
Reports indicate that the FBI, DEA, U.S. Department of Justice and Tinubu have until August 28, 2026, to file their positions on the proposed release of the records.
The records relate to historical U.S. investigations from the late 1980s and early 1990s, as well as a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds associated with Tinubu. Available court records indicate that the forfeiture was a civil proceeding and did not result in a criminal conviction against Tinubu.
Tinubu has denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations.
The latest court development does not, by itself, establish that the disputed records contain evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the Nigerian president. Rather, it concerns whether the FBI can keep particular information confidential under applicable U.S. law.
The court’s eventual decision on the release of the records could determine how much of the material sought under the FOIA requests becomes publicly available.
The case remains ongoing, with further submissions expected before the August 28 deadline.
Leave a comment