Why Tinubu Doesn’t Want His US Records Released – Presidency

The Presidency has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is opposing the release of unredacted records held by United States law enforcement agencies, stating that the matter involves lawful exemptions under the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and does not amount to a criminal case against the Nigerian leader.

The Presidency clarified that the ongoing litigation before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia is purely a civil dispute over access to government records rather than a finding of criminal wrongdoing.

According to the statement, the dispute began in 2022 when Aaron Greenspan filed FOIA requests to several US agencies regarding Tinubu, which led to Civil Action No. 23-1816 in 2023 after agencies withheld certain documents.

The court permitted Tinubu to join the suit as an intervenor, while the Presidency noted that a February 4, 2003 letter from the US Consulate in Lagos to former IGP Tafa Balogun confirmed that an FBI check revealed no criminal arrest records or warrants for Tinubu.

Explaining the legal process, the Presidency noted that agencies invoked the “Glomar defence” to protect law enforcement personnel and confidential sources, leading the court to grant summary judgment favoring the CIA, State Department, Treasury, and IRS.

The remaining proceedings involve the FBI and DEA, which have already released 399 pages of redacted documents in compliance with court orders while opposing the release of unredacted files through the US Department of Justice.

The DOJ and Tinubu’s legal team asserted FOIA Exemptions covering grand jury proceedings, attorney-client privilege, law-enforcement techniques, and personal privacy protection under Exemption 7(C).

Emphasizing that withholding records under FOIA does not establish criminal liability, the Presidency noted that Greenspan has until September 11, 2026, to file his opposition, with responses from the defendants due by September 18 before Judge Beryl A. Howell.

The Presidency also dismissed claims by lobbyist Karl Von Batten and Atiku Abubakar as non-parties to the suit, urging the public and media to distinguish the civil FOIA dispute from partisan commentary.