The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has finally submitted records relating to President Bola Tinubu’s 1993 drug-trafficking and money-laundering records to Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
Reports suggest the FBI hand-delivered the records to the court on Friday and requested that they remain under seal for the judge’s review.
According to reports, the FBI submitted the documents under seal on August 28, 2026, for an ex parte, in camera review, in compliance with a minute order issued by Judge Howell on August 20.
President Bola Tinubu’s 1993 drug-trafficking and money-laundering records have been submitted directly to the judge without being immediately made available to Greenspan, the petitioner in the case.
The development follows a United States District Court reportedly giving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) a deadline to release investigative files on Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It may be recalled that in April 2025, the court ordered the two American agencies to release the files in its ruling in a suit filed by American activist Aaron Greenspan and journalist David Hundeyin.
Multiple reports on August 18, 2026, disclosed that the court has now given the DEA and the FBI a deadline to release the files after they refused to comply with its order.
According to African Folder, the judge who presided over the case, Judge Beryl Howell, ordered the agencies to “release non-exempt records” after sharply criticising the two agencies for missing a string of court deadlines.
The information gathered suggests the case stems from a Chicago heroin investigation and a 1993 forfeiture in which Tinubu surrendered $460,000, but was never charged with any crime.
Saharareporters.com have also reported that Judge Beryl Howell granted only a four-day extension to the agencies for the release of the files, setting August 21 as the new deadline.
According to the judge, he was not willing to delay the case, which he has been hearing for over three years, any further.
However, reports suggest President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined the US Department of Justice in seeking a 10-day extension to respond to a motion seeking the release of records relating to allegations of drug trafficking.
A Nigerian news portal, tribuneonlineng.com, in a publication stated, “Tinubu’s legal team filed a notice of joinder before the US District Court for the District of Columbia, asking to be placed on the same schedule as the defendants in the case.
The filing was published online by Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a US-based policy advisory and lobbying firm retained by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In the notice, Tinubu’s lawyers said they were joining the defendants’ request for a 10-day extension to respond to the motion for summary judgment.
“Intervenor joins Defendants’ motion for a 10-day extension of time to file response to the motion for summary judgment (DE 92), inasmuch as Intervenor requests that the responses remain on the same schedule,” the filing stated.
The notice was signed by Christopher W. Carmichael and Victor P. Henderson of Henderson Parks, LLC.
According to the filing, the plaintiff opposed the request, while the defendant did not.
However, US District Judge Beryl Howell subsequently denied the application for an extension, according to the lobbying firm.
Meanwhile, reports suggest President Tinubu has consistently and firmly denied any involvement in drug trafficking, dismissing the decades-old allegations.
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