Tension Mounts as FBI Prepares to Release Files on President Tinubu’s Past
A growing political standoff is unfolding as Nigeria awaits the imminent release of documents by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) pertaining to President Bola Tinubu’s historical associations, particularly a decades-old drug-related probe from the early 1990s in Chicago.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday dismissed growing excitement among opposition parties and critics, branding their expectations of revelatory disclosures as misguided theatrics. The ruling party described those anticipating political fallout from the release as “clowns” indulging in post-election delusion.
This development follows a ruling by Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., compelling the FBI and DEA to disclose all non-exempt documents linked to the case, in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The court clarified that the documents in question have long been publicly accessible and do not introduce any novel threat to President Tinubu’s political legitimacy.
The FOIA request was initiated by American transparency advocate and legal researcher Aaron Greenspan, who filed 12 separate applications between 2022 and 2023, seeking access to records connected to an alleged narcotics ring involving President Tinubu and three others—Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.
Until recently, the FBI and DEA had issued “Glomar responses,” refusing to confirm or deny the existence of the requested materials. The court, however, ruled these evasions unwarranted, ordering the agencies to comply with Greenspan’s request by May 2.
Anticipation surrounding the release has ignited a firestorm of speculation across social media, with prominent opposition figures offering varied responses to what the documents might reveal.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, through his spokesperson Paul Ibe, emphasized that Nigerians have been awaiting clarity on this matter since it was first raised in 1999 by the late legal icon Chief Gani Fawehinmi. “There is understandable public curiosity,” Ibe said, noting that citizens are eager to review the report’s full contents.
Similarly, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) struck a cautious tone. National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson urged restraint, advising the public to avoid premature conclusions. “There is a Yoruba proverb that says the groom need not strain his neck to see the bride—patience will reveal all,” he remarked, adding that the documents may ultimately prove anticlimactic.
However, a stronger reaction came from Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who suggested the forthcoming disclosures might severely tarnish the President’s credibility. “The tension arises because of apparent efforts by the President to prevent public access to these files. A damaging revelation could invoke constitutional implications, potentially disqualifying him from future electoral contests,” he warned.
Osadolor further described the situation as a critical moment for national leadership and accountability, urging transparency as a core tenet of democratic governance. He questioned why a leader with alleged unresolved controversies would seek re-election in 2027. “Nigerians have a right to know whether their President has a clean, obscure, or complex past. Such information shapes public trust and informs national discourse,” he asserted.
He also called upon the Nigerian judiciary, security apparatus, and electoral institutions to act with integrity and impartiality should the documents reveal compromising information.
In a swift rebuttal, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, dismissed opposition concerns as “melodramatic outbursts.” According to Basiru, only Nigeria’s Constitution has the authority to determine presidential eligibility—not any foreign report. “These individuals are suffering from post-election trauma. They are not serious politicians but comedians in need of therapy,” he said.
Basiru challenged opposition figures to redirect their energy toward the next electoral cycle. “If they wish to govern, let them prepare for 2027 and meet us at the ballot box. For now, their theatrics are inconsequential,” he concluded.