A United States District Court in Columbia has directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records related to the criminal investigation of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged drug trafficking.
The ruling, issued by Judge Beryl Howell on April 8, 2025, challenges the agencies’ previous refusal to disclose the requested information.
Key Details:
- Background: The case stems from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by American researcher Aaron Greenspan, who sought records on Tinubu’s alleged involvement in a Chicago heroin trafficking ring in the early 1990s. Greenspan’s requests also included information on three other individuals linked to the drug ring.
- Court’s Decision: Judge Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA’s “Glomar responses”—a refusal to confirm or deny the existence of records—were improper and must be lifted. The court emphasized that privacy concerns do not outweigh the public’s right to access this information.
- Implications: The FBI and DEA have been ordered to search for and process non-exempt records related to Tinubu’s investigation. The agencies are required to submit a joint report by May 2, 2025, detailing the status of the case.