Tinubu Warns U.S. Court of Serious Consequences if FBI and CIA Release His Confidential Records.
President Bola Tinubu has moved to intervene and oppose a motion that could potentially lead to the release of his confidential records, both criminal and otherwise, by prominent U.S. security agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Tinubu’s intervention is driven by his concern that the disclosure of these records could significantly and adversely affect him. Bryan A. Carey, the attorney representing the Nigerian leader, emphasized the importance of allowing Tinubu to intervene, asserting that his interests are not fully represented or protected by the defendants. Carey argued that Tinubu’s interests would be at risk if he is not permitted to intervene, as revealed in a document obtained by Peoples Gazette.
The saga began when Aaron Greenspan, the owner of PlainSite, a website dedicated to promoting legal data transparency to combat corruption in public service, submitted a Freedom of Information request for Mr. Tinubu’s records in 2022. Collaborating with Nigerian journalist David Hundeyin, who is a U.S. citizen, Greenspan sought access to these confidential documents.
The FBI had announced last month its intention to comply with the request and release the records in batches, totaling around 2500 pages, with a monthly distribution of 500 pages starting in October. This decision had generated significant anticipation among Nigerians, who hoped that these records would shed light on long-standing controversies regarding Mr. Tinubu’s background and his alleged involvement in narcotics dealing, which resulted in a forfeiture of $460,000 in 1993.
However, the Nigerian leader is now fiercely opposing the release of these records to the public. This situation mirrors a previous attempt to prevent his primary opponent, Atiku Abubakar, from accessing his records from Chicago State University (CSU).
It remains uncertain whether Mr. Tinubu will encounter similar challenges in blocking U.S. agencies from complying with federal disclosure regulations as he did in his previous legal battles. His five-month-old presidency has been marked by legal disputes, including allegations of electoral fraud, perjury related to false statements on an electoral form about his Guinean citizenship status, narcotics dealing, and presenting forged certificates to the electoral commission, INEC.
This legal battle over the release of confidential records promises to be a critical and closely watched issue, both in Nigeria and internationally, as it touches upon issues of transparency, accountability, and public interest in the highest echelons of government.
