The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has filed a challenge in a US court to prevent the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI and DEA from releasing records linked to allegations of drug trafficking.
According to reports, lawyers for Bola Tinubu, in a 16-page court document, argued that the release of the records could infringe on his privacy.
Parts of the document by his lawyer and legal team, Christopher W. Carmichael, Victor P. Henderson, and Oluwole O. Afolabi, read, “Submitted in that proceeding did not reveal the details of a possible criminal investigation (or its results) involving Intervenor. Other than by speculation or labels, Plaintiff does not point to an existing public record that contains details of a governmental criminal investigation or findings about Intervenor. (DE 85-3, No. 16.)
“The purpose of Plaintiff’s motion is to obtain such information because it is not public. Moreover, Plaintiff’s argument that the limited disclosures in connection with the forfeiture negates all privacy interests is not consistent with precedent. The Supreme Court explained that an individual retains a privacy interest in an entire file or document being produced, even where there are “scattered” disclosures of information from that same file. See Reporters Committee, 489 U.S. at 764-67 (“our cases have recognised the privacy interests inherent in the non-disclosure of certain information even where the information may have been public at one time.”).
“While some information may appear in portions of public records, an individual still retains a privacy interest in the details that remain undisclosed. Applying Reporter’s Committee, this Court explained that an individual retains a privacy interest even if they were previously publicly associated with criminal activity. Judicial Watch, Inc. v. United States Dept. of Justice, 898 F.Supp.2d 93, 104-05 (D.D.C. 2012).
“Other decisions have likewise described the fact that someone was under investigation as “distinct” from the contents of the investigative files. See Electronic Privacy Info. Centre v. United States Dept. of Justice, 18 F.4d 712, 719 (D.C. Cir. 2021) (“Although the names of – 6 – Case 1:23-cv-01816-BAH Document 98 Filed 08/28/26 Page 7 of 16 Trump campaign officials appear in public portions of the Report, they retain a privacy interest in ‘avoiding disclosure of the details of the investigation.’”)
“Regardless of the prior disclosure in the forfeiture proceeding, Intervenor retains a privacy interest in potential disclosure of the investigative files sought by Plaintiff”, the document read in part.
Meanwhile, 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.
In the meantime, reports suggest President Tinubu has consistently and firmly denied any involvement in drug trafficking, dismissing the decades-old allegations.
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