U.S. Court Orders FBI, DEA to Release Files on President Tinubu’s Alleged Drug Trafficking Investigation

In a significant legal development with potential international ramifications, a U.S. federal judge has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release non-exempt records related to a criminal investigation involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

The ruling, issued on April 8 by Judge Beryl Howell of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, directs both federal agencies to process documents tied to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted by American researcher Aaron Greenspan.

The case revolves around Tinubu’s alleged connection to a Chicago-based drug trafficking ring that operated during the early 1990s.

Between 2022 and 2023, Greenspan filed a total of 12 FOIA requests seeking detailed records on the drug operation and individuals associated with it, including Tinubu, Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.

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However, the FBI and DEA initially refused to confirm or deny the existence of such documents, invoking what’s known as a “Glomar response” — a legal tactic often used to protect sensitive investigations or personal privacy.

Judge Howell, however, rejected this defense. In her ruling, she emphasized that both the FBI and DEA had previously acknowledged conducting investigations into Tinubu’s alleged involvement in the drug ring. As such, she determined that the public interest in the case outweighs any purported privacy concerns.

“The FBI and DEA have both officially confirmed investigations of Tinubu relating to the drug trafficking ring,” the judgment reads. “Any privacy interests implicated by the FOIA requests are overridden by the public interest in transparency.”

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The court also stated that the FBI and DEA failed to demonstrate a compelling reason for continuing to withhold the information, noting that they “provided no information to establish that a cognizable privacy interest exists” in keeping the fact of Tinubu’s investigation secret.

While the CIA was also named in the FOIA request, the judge upheld the agency’s Glomar response, ruling it was legally valid. As a result, the CIA is not required to release any documents in this case.

In summary, the court granted summary judgment in favor of Greenspan with respect to the FBI and DEA, compelling both agencies to begin searching and processing relevant non-exempt records. The CIA, on the other hand, was granted judgment in its favor.

Looking ahead, all involved parties have been directed to file a joint status report by May 2, 2025, to update the court on any unresolved issues.

This ruling marks a pivotal moment in a long-running controversy that has trailed President Tinubu for decades. With the court-ordered release of these documents looming, there could be fresh scrutiny on the Nigerian leader from both domestic and international audiences.