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Bola Tinubu seeks US court block on FBI and DEA record release
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has petitioned a US District Court to block the release of FBI and DEA records. The legal battle stems from Freedom of Information Act requests filed by transparency activist Aaron Greenspan and journalist David Hundeyin regarding alleged drug-trafficking and money-laundering activities involving Tinubu in the 1990s.
On August 28, 2026, the FBI submitted the requested materials to Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C. The documents were delivered “under seal, ex parte, in camera” to protect Tinubu’s privacy rights. Tinubu has argued that the disclosure of these records is an attempt by political opponents to damage his reputation and influence the 2027 Nigerian presidential election.
The US-based advocacy firm Von Batten-Montague-York has claimed that the allegations may impact Tinubu’s upcoming trip to the UN General Assembly in New York, alleging that a planned meeting between Tinubu and US President Donald Trump may be canceled due to these long-standing claims.
Entities
Aaron Greenspan · Beryl Howell · Bola Tinubu · DEA · Drug Enforcement Administration · FBI · Federal Bureau of Investigation · US District Court for the District of Columbia · Von Batten-Montague-York
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Bola Tinubu has asked a US court to block the release of records held by the FBI and DEA. www.kanyidaily.com · www.thisdaylive.com · axadletimes.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The requested documents include FBI interview records from 1992 and 1993. www.kanyidaily.com · www.thisdaylive.com · thevoicenewsmagazine.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The requested records contain private information protected by privacy laws. www.kanyidaily.com · www.thisdaylive.com · realnewsmagazine.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] Transparency activist Aaron Greenspan is seeking the release of FBI and DEA records via Freedom of Information Act requests. www.kanyidaily.com · www.thisdaylive.com · thevoicenewsmagazine.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] US District Judge Beryl Howell previously ruled that the FBI and DEA acted improperly by initially refusing to confirm or deny the existence of records. www.kanyidaily.com · thevoicenewsmagazine.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The requests include records related to a 1993 US civil forfeiture proceeding involving approximately $460,000. www.thisdaylive.com · thevoicenewsmagazine.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The firm Von Batten-Montague-York claimed Tinubu's legal actions are intended to influence Nigeria's 2027 presidential election. www.nigerianeye.com · 247ureports.com · www.naijanews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The FBI submitted records related to President Tinubu to a federal judge in Washington, D.C. under seal for exclusive review. thevoicenewsmagazine.com