Still On Tinubu’s FBI Files, The Nigerian Dented International Image And Other Matters -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

It is no longer news that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man occupying Aso Rock as Nigerian president was the subject of a 1990s U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) file concerning a Chicago-based narcotics and money-laundering case. It is also public knowledge that an American transparency right activist Aaron Greenspan had filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit since 2023 against several US government agencies seeking documents relating to investigations containing Tinubu’s involvement in the drug-trafficking case. Greenspan’s requests include the FBI’s entire file on Tinubu and FBI Form 302 interview records concerning the period between 1992 and 1993. The case also involves an alleged record connected to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding in the United States involving about $460,000 linked to Tinubu.

On April 8, 2025, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records regarding Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s case. In the ruling by the District Judge Beryl Howell, the court rejected the FBI and the DEA’s refusals to confirm or deny holding files on Tinubu using what is known as “Glomar response” to hide whether such files exist, noting that the 1993 forfeiture record made total secrecy of the case implausible and directed them to process and release the non-exempt records.

But the FBI did not comply with the order to release the file as directed by the court. But when pressure started mounting, the FBI filed a motion seeking to submit ex parte in camera declarations on why it withheld the information about its investigative records relating to allegations of drug trafficking against Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In an application filed on August 20, 2026, the FBI told the court that it cannot publicly explain all the reasons for withholding certain records, hence the need for an ex parte in camera declaration, stating that doing so “would among other things, disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations and/or could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual”.

And from the Tinubu’s camp, the situation is tense and the mood is gloomy. They are afraid that the contents of the said FBI files would disqualify or work against Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election in Nigeria. And members of his team have been making statements, some contradictory, some acknowledging that most of the information in file are already in the public domain and that there was no record of criminal conviction or indictment. And if they already know that there were no criminal contents in the file, why are they fidgety about the release of the file. Recall that on the August 28, 2026, Tinubu had filed a suit in the court praying the court to stop the release of his files. According to the 16-page court documents released by his lawyer and legal team, Christopher W. Carmichael, Victor P. Henderson, and Oluwole O. Afolabi, Tinubu argued that the release of the records could infringe on his privacy.

And as if to confirm the hopelessness of the Tinubu camp on the case, on September 2, 2026, two days after he left the country for vacation in Europe Mr. Karl Van Batten the principal partner of the Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. the PR advocacy, lobbying firm hired by Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president and the current presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) declared that somebody from the Tinubu camp called and offered $3 million bribe for them to stop lobbying for the release of the FBI files.

And after months of foot-dragging by the FBI, it was forced to submit the files “under seal, ex parte, in camera declaration to Judge Beryl Howell in compliance with court’s Minute Order of August 20, 2026. And the world is waiting for the final decision of the judge on the public release of the files.

From the whole thing, there are indications that the FBI has something to hide. Why will the FBI compile such a record if it is not meant to be released? If the FBI can release the Jeffrey Epstein files that indicted some high profile Americans why not Tinubu files? Can FBI and Americans tolerate a president of America with criminal records? If the US can battle foreign leaders like Manuel Noriega Of Panama, Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras for drug-related cases why not Tinubu of Nigeria? Is Tinubu an asset for the FBI? Is Tinubu or has Tinubu been an FBI spy in the past as is being insinuated?

It is certain that Tinubu has something unpalatable from his past to hide. He is afraid of his past. He is a public figure and when a public figure has a crime to hide, he loses the moral right to remain in office. Therefore, it is necessary for Nigerians to press for the release of this file or force Tinubu to resign. And now that the said files have been made available to the presiding judge, we trust the American court system to do the right thing and end this months of speculation. Nigerians deserve the right to know the character of the man presiding over their affairs. The records of the conduct of a public figure like that of the president of a country is not a private matter.

It is a shame of unimaginable proportion that the person occupying the highest office in Nigeria is being investigated like a common criminal. Indeed, Tinubu has tainted the image of Nigerians more than anyone in recorded history. He has made Nigerians the laughing stock of other nations.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK