President Bola Tinubu Fights to Keep His U.S. Records Secret

(iexclusivenews) – President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has filed a motion to intervene and stop a request that would reveal his records held by top U.S. security agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The Nigerian leader claims that he has a direct interest in the records sought and that his interests would be adversely affected if the U.S. Court for the Northern District of Columbia in Washington D.C. grants the request, according to Bryan A. Carey, the attorney representing him.

The motion was filed on Monday in response to a freedom of information request made by Aaron Greenspan, owner of PlainSite, a website that advocates legal data transparency to end corruption in public service.

Mr Greenspan, a U.S. citizen, collaborated with Nigerian journalist David Hundeyin in applying for the request in 2022.

Nigerians Await Tinubu’s Records to Clarify Decades-Long Controversies

The request seeks to obtain Mr Tinubu’s records from various U.S. agencies, including the FBI, CIA, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and Internal Revenue Service.

The records are expected to shed light on Mr Tinubu’s background and his role in a narcotics dealing that led to his forfeiture of $460,000 in 1993.

They may also reveal his involvement in other criminal or civil matters in the U.S.

Nigerians have eagerly anticipated the release of the records hoping they would clarify decades-long controversies about President Tinubu’s identity, education, citizenship, and wealth.

However, the Nigerian leader is now ferociously fighting to keep those data hidden from the public, much as he did when he sought to prevent his primary opponent, Atiku Abubakar, from accessing his Chicago State University (CSU) records during the 2023 presidential election.

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Tinubu Faces Multiple Legal Challenges as President

President Tinubu’s presidency has been beset by legal tussles ranging from allegations of electoral fraud, perjury for lying on an electoral form regarding his Guinean citizenship status, narcotics dealing and presenting forged certificate to the electoral commission, INEC.

The FBI, last month, said it would comply with the request and release the sought records about 2500 pages in batches of 500 pages monthly starting October.

However, President Tinubu’s motion to intervene may delay or prevent the disclosure of his records.

It is unclear if the same failure that trailed his desperate opposition to have his CSU records from being accessed by Mr Abubakar awaits him in the quest to block U.S. agencies from complying with federal disclosure regulations.

The U.S. court has not yet ruled on Mr Tinubu’s motion to intervene or on the original request for his records. The case is still pending before Judge Amit P. Mehta.