FBI tells US court: Releasing Tinubu’s records could endanger lives, expose investigative methods
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, has asked a US court to allow it file secret declarations explaining why it is refusing to release records relating to President Bola Tinubu.
In a motion filed on August 20 before the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the FBI said it could not publicly state all its reasons for withholding the documents. It is therefore seeking to submit “ex parte in camera” declarations, including written statements made directly to a judge and not shared with other parties.
A copy of the application was published on X by Von Batten-Montague-York, a Washington-based lobbying firm recently hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election.
What FBI is witholding
The requests relate to alleged FBI investigations from 1992 to 1993.
One request, numbered 1588244-000, sought “the entire FBI file for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, DOB 3/29/1952, President-Elect of Nigeria as of February 2023.”
A second request, 1593615-000, asked for “FBI 302 interviews with Bola Tinubu from FBI Case No. 245-IP-71386-UUUUUU during the timeframe 1992-1993.”
The FBI said it invoked several FOIA exemptions — 6, 7(C), 7(D), 7(E) and 7(F) — covering personal privacy and law enforcement records.
According to the motion: “The information withheld from Plaintiff in this case, if disclosed, 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.”
The Bureau added that it cannot give the full basis for applying Exemptions 7(E) and 7(F) on the public record, and that a sealed, ex parte filing is necessary. If granted, the FBI said it would file the declaration before August 28.
Background
The lawsuit was filed by Aaron Greenspan, founder of transparency platform PlainSite.
Between 2022 and 2023, Greenspan filed 12 FOIA requests across six US federal agencies for records on a Chicago heroin ring from the early 1990s. He named four individuals allegedly linked to the ring: Tinubu, Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.
Five agencies issued a “Glomar response” — refusing to confirm or deny the existence of records. Greenspan sued the DOJ’s Office of Information Policy in June 2023, challenging the refusal.
Named defendants include the FBI, DEA, IRS, EOUSA, Department of State, and later, the CIA.
In April 2025, Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA’s Glomar responses were “improper and must be lifted.” She said both agencies failed to show that a “cognizable privacy interest” existed in keeping secret the fact that Tinubu was a subject of a criminal investigation.
Recent filings
The US Department of Justice had asked for a 10-day extension to respond to Judge Howell’s order. The judge granted only four days, until August 21.
Tinubu’s legal team also filed for a 10-day extension, which Howell declined.
If the court approves the FBI’s request, the sealed declaration explaining the withholdings will be submitted to the judge privately.
